Labour Federation

On the way to Hobart I took the opportunity of attending the conference of the Australian Student Labour Federation (ASLF) which was held near Melbourne early in January and was composed of delegates from left wing clubs in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The Federation aims to weld together all students of socialist views on matters of common interest, and includes all shades of left wing opinion, from right wing Labour Party members through to social democrats, Communiste, and even a Trotskyite fringe. The Melbourne University Labour Club is the strongest, with over 300 members. The Federation publishes a magazine, "Student," and a song book containing famous left wing songs and other popular ditties.

Highlights of the Conference were discussions on American Imperialism, on the position of the Aborigines, on the position of the individual under Socialism, and on Morals for Moderns which included everything from companionate marriage to Socialist ethics and the views of Arthur Koestler.

Alec McLeod

" . . . a slick explanation."