Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume. 34, Number 12. June 16, 1971

Trip to China

Trip to China

Photo of large Chinese gathering

When 20 New Zealand students visit the People's Republic of China in a few week's time, they will be renewing contact which has been broken for several years. New Zealand students last visited the People's Republic in 1967-68, when four New Zealanders were included in a forty-strong party, organized by the Australian Union of Students. The People's Republic of China was at that time undergoing a Cultural Revolution, but equally important, so far as student visits were concerned, some members of the Australasian party made uncomplimentary comments about Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, in the hearing of their Chinese hosts. As a result, invitations ceased forthwith.

However, late last year, the then President of NZUSA, Paul Grocott, worte several times to the Authorities of the People's Republic, through the New Zealand-China Society, with a view to resuming visits by New Zealand students. About a month ago, these enquiries bore fruit, when the New Zealand-China Society was requested to invite twenty New Zealand students to visit the People's Republic of China, as guests of Luxingshe (China International Travel), the state travel agency.

NZUSA President, Dave Cuthbert, replied enthusiastically to this invitation, requesting at the same time more detailed information. Due mainly to the eccentricities of communications with the People's Republic, not all this information has yet been received. However, it is known that the visit will be of three to four weeks' duration, with the twenty students themselves specifying what they wish to do and see whilst in the People's Republic of China NZUSA has been informed that the visit will involve only "tiny expense" to the participants, but whether this tininess relates to the entire trip or whether the cost of travel between New Zealand and Hong Kong will have to be borne by participants, is not yet known. Despite this, NZUSA National Executive urges interested students to apply, irrespective of the possible cost. NZUSA will endeavour to arrange loans, or otherwise finance successful applicants, should this prove necessary. It is emphasized that no person should be prevented from participation simply due to financial hardship.

Dave Cuthbert, together with Chris Livesey (Vice-President NZUSA), Mr Jack Shallcrass, and Mr Douglas Lake (formerly Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and recently returned from the People's Republic of China) will make up the election Committee, which for two basic reasons will be attempting to get as broad a cross-section of New Zealand students as possible. Firstly, in order to gain the most possible credibility in the eyes of the New Zealand public, the group must be seen to be reasonably representative of the student body, and of all political views. Obviously, if twenty people, all known to have strong left wing opinions, were chosen, their comments on return, however sincere, objective and accurate, would be disregarded. If, on the other hand, the group included a relatively broad range of political thought, and all members were to tell substantially the same story on their return, the chances of their being heeded are much greater.

The second reason is more directly related to the students themselves. In the recent past, considerable - and justified - resentment has been expressed by the ordinary student, forced to contribute to NZUSA finances, about the "junket" trips enjoyed by the political cowboys of the NZUSA bureaucracy. The present NZUSA office holders are particularly anxious to see this situation stopped. There is at present a motion on the books relating to officeholders taking trips during their term of office, and Dave Cuthbert has expressed his extreme distaste for those who have abused their positions in this way.

However, it seems unlikely that any of the particpants will represent the much-maligned "average student" - rated as apathetic, unintelligent, easily manipulated. Partly in order to gain the widest possible representation, and partly to ensure that the members of the group do not simply reinforce their own prejudices, certain criteria have been laid down for use by the Selection Committee, calculated to give the maximum possible benefit to the participants, New Zealand students generally, and the New Zealand public at large. The criteria include the perceptiveness of the applicants, and their ability to form sound objectuve judgments while in the People's Republic of China; their willingness and ability to convey these judgments to the people of New Zealand, through all available media, thereby furthering the understanding of the People's Republic among New Zealanders; the sensitivity of the applicants with respect to their special position as guests of the People's Republic during their visit, to avoid a repetition of the tactlessness which occurred on the previous visit, mentioned above; and that the applicants be well-informed about New Zealand and its society.

The successful applicants will undertake not to make any financial gain from speaking, writing, etc., about their visit. Any payment they do receive will be passed on to NZUSA, to go to a student travel fund.

Following the receipt of the invitation, Dave Cuthbert wrote to the Prime Minister advising him of the situation, and, in view of this country's non-recognition of the People's Republic, offering the delegatio as a means of assisting the Government"...establish a dialogue with the People's Republic of China." To this end, he said he would be happy for members of the group to meet with Sir Keith to discuss New Zealand's policy, and future intentions in this area. To this, Sir Keith has replied that he is happy that some New Zealanders are to have to opportunity of meeting some of the people of Communist China. He has referred the delegation a the first instance to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, who will brief them on the Government's position, and hear their views. After Sir Keith has received a report from that gentleman, he "...could consider whether it would be useful...to see the delegation before they leave."

So, all you people with an urge to travel, to get your picture in Time, meet Chou En-Lai, perhaps even Sir Keith - see the Students Association office for all the details of applications, which should be in the hands of David Cuthbert by 5.00 p.m. on the 16th of June.