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SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1935. Volume 6. Number 17.

Would you Fight?

Would you Fight?

The following questionaire has been prepared for submission to the students of all university Colleges in New Zealand at the end of September.

A.
1.Would you resist without question, a threatened invasion of New Zealand.
2.Would you take part in a war to assist Great Britain no matter what the cause or occasion, to which Great Britain had committed herself?
3.If a state is declared an agressor by the League of Nations
(a)Would you be in sympathy with economic and non-military measures against it?
(b)It these failed would you participate in a war against it?
4.Are you in favour of an international police force controlled by the League of Nations, in place of National armies?
B.
1.Are you in favour of an all-round reduction of armaments by international agreement?
2.Are you in favour of the reduction of armaments by the British Empire, irrespective of the action of other countries?
3.Would you oppose the revival of compulsory military training in peace time in New Zealand?
4.In the event of war to-morrow would you
(a)Voluntarily enlist (or urge your friends to do so?).
(b)Oppose the introduction of conscription?
(c)Undertake war work?
(d)Oppose war?
C.Do you think—
1.That the overthrow of capitalism offers hope of permanent peace?
2.That the development of the League of Nations offers hope of permanent peace?
3.That the general acceptance of Christianity as exemplified, e.g., in the Sermon on Mount (Matthew V.) offers hope of permanent peace?
4.In what order of importance would you place you answers to C1., 2, and 3?

Questions are to be answered "Yes" or "No" or if doubtful by a query. Provision is also made for making comments on the back of the ballot paper.

The Use of the Ballot.

There is no question on which though is more confused or doubt more rife than on that of peace and war. In an attempt to clarify the situation as far as the N.Z.U. student is concerned, the New Zealand University Students' Association has drawn up a questionaire. Considerable though has been expended on the preparation of this and it follows the lines of those of other countries, especially Australia and Canada. It actually includes two of the questions contained in the League of Nations Union Ballot, which was so strikingly successful in England.

The N.Z.U. student is now to be asked his opinion and it is hoped that he will not lightly regard this opportunity of influencing his country's attitude towards these fateful problems.

The Prime Minister has said that if Great Britain became involved in war, New Zealand would also be involved "because the sentiment of this country would inevitably insist on New Zealand standing shoulder to shoulder with Great Britain in such an circumstances." If the New Zealand student agrees the knowledge of this will be of value to the Prime Minister in such an eventuality. If he does not agree it is his duty to hasten to correct a wrong impression which bristles with dangerous implications.

Again the statement has been made that 20 per cent, of the students of the Otago University subscribe to the pacifist viewpoint, but the president of the Otago University Students' Association has questioned this and thinks that the student body as a whole would fall into line with the people of the Dominion if called up to fight. Is Dr. Hawkesworth right or is he wrong, and if he is right, is his statement true of all N.Z.U. students, or only of those of Otago?

These are only some of the issues involved in this questionaire, only some of the questions we shall be able to answer when the results of the ballot are known.

The results can be of importance but will be so only if the response is a truly representative one. Hence the need for every student to voice opinion.

A.T.S. Mcghie,

Hon. Secretary, N.Z.U.S.A.