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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 7, No. 10 October 4, 1944

We are not Alone — Bear Ye One Another's Cudgels

We are not Alone

Bear Ye One Another's Cudgels

Dr. J. C. Beaglehole, in a symposium on "Salient" conducted in 1939 remarked that the noise of battle which surrounds "Salient" is a healthy sign. The noise of the same battle still surrounds "Salient" of 1944. In fact this same-battle seems to be carried on in almost every University in the World. It is therefore no surprise, on looking through student papers from other countries, which no one normally troubles to read, that students everywhere are thinking in terms of civil liberties, freer and more liberal education, while many are concerning themselves with the wider problems of society. The partisan students of Yugoslavia, who had to fight through German lines to hold a student Congress recently, and the University Labour Federation in England, whose members are active citizens in the community, not holding themselves above it in Ivory Towers as we do, are excellent examples. Movements such as these promise well fort the rebirth of an International Student Federation after the war on the lines of the now defunct C. I. E.—The Cercle Internationale des Etudiants.

The vociferous protest made throughout New Zealand during this year has brought us into the public eye in a Tairly favourable light. Three Australian Universities have been in the public eye also—not so favourably.

The stories of the riots caused by students in Sydney on two occasions have been fairly well covered by the daily newspapers. We do not wish to associate ourselves with either of these so-called "causes." One concerned wartime censorship and the students championed the right of industrial magnates to criticize the War Cabinet. The other was an exhibition of extremely bad taste during the presentations to American servicemen.

At Melbourne and in Western Australia, however, students have been acting in a manner which will benefit not only themselves but their fellows everywhere. Let us examine their actions in more detail.

Civil Liberties?

It may be necessary to restrict individual freedom in wartime but in cases of major political issues, the public, He (this includes even Training College-students) are at least entitled to hear both sides presented by recognized protagonists. The referendum recently presented to Australian electors was such an issue. Accordingly, the students of Teachers' College, Melbourne, invited Mr. R. G. Menzies (No) and Lieut E. A. H. Laurie (Yes) to present their views on the referendum at a general meeting.

Laurie happened to be a Communist and his appearance was banned by Hollway, Minister of Education. The teachers held a protest meeting and their case was supported by Melbourne University Students' Association. Hollway, commenting on this, said the University was a nursery for Communists, and that Communists had all its facilities at their disposal. Another protest followed and the "yes" case was presented to the students by Dedman, a Government speaker.

Final results are hard to achieve in such a matter, for so far it cannot be said that the student have won their case, but whatever happens they are in a far stronger position, and. which is more important, are a united body.

More Money—or Else

The dispute in Western Australia was on a more material issue. The Western Australian University is a growing college in a growing state. It is understaffed, is short of cash, has no student representation on the Senate. This year the situation became so acute that the present staff could not cope with the increased classes.

A special meeting, however, succeeded in pressing the Senate into activity. These august gentlemen were so impressed that they arranged to have the state grant increased—immediately, in order to facilitate an increase in the teaching staff. However, it seems that Western Australia breeds a fighting type of student, because the latest issue of their journal bears the caption "What is Needed—Now."

E. S. Andrews, adventure-loving author of "Close Up of Guadalcanal." has the observing eye of the experienced camera-man. He is employed in the Government Film Studios at Miramar. Wellington.