The 29 members of the Council and Executive of NUAUS met for ten days, often three times a day, and the record of resolutions passed occupies twenty foolscap pages; the New Zealanders were invited to speak to any motion and were frequently questioned by councilors. Some of the topics discussed are of particular interest to New Zealand students.

A motion was passed urging the Government to increase grants to rehabilitation students, to make them equal to the basic wage. Australia is already ahead of New Zealand in this respect, because all returned servicemen are automatically entitled to full time bursaries and payments are continued throughout the long vacation.

Several visitors were present from the Teachers' Colleges and full time Technical Colleges, and a preparatory committee was set up to proceed with the establishment of a Federation of Australian Students, to include the students of all tertiary educational institutions, namely Universities, Teachers Colleges and Technical Colleges.

A motion to make chest x-ray examinations compulsory for all students was defeated. Speakers in favor of the move pointed out that adolescents were more likely to be infected than any other age group, and that the universities could give a lead to the community by such a scheme.

I.U.S. Withdrawal

The most controversial issue before Council was the motion for withdrawal from the International Union of Students. The motion was based on an unfavorable report from the Australian delegate to the inaugural conference of IUS. Both the report, and the support it received in Council appeared to be based on the contention that the aims of IUS are not in complete agreement with those of NUAUS. IUS stands for the right of self determination for colonial peoples. UNO stands for the right of self determination for all peoples. NUAUS, on the face of things, would appear to do neither. An objection to affiliation on the grounds that no constitution was available was quashed by the arrival of a constitution with the Sydney Technical College delegation. Mrs. Scott outlined the reasons for New Zealand students' support of IUS, and later in the debate I spoke against disaffiliation which was finally carried by 12 votes to 11. As a year's notice is required for disaffiliation, an Australian delegate will probably he sent to the 1947 IUS Conference, and there is still time to repent.

Inaugural Congress

280 students, drawn from all the Australian universities, met for ten days and were accommodated at the Brighton Military Camp, 16 miles from Hobart. The purpose of the Congress was to allow students to meet and mingle, both socially and in discussion round the theme of "Students in Society." For many, the holiday/side predominated, which is understandable, since Tasmania is an ideal place for a holiday, shaving pubs open till 10 p.m., motorists who enjoy giving hitch-hikers a lift, and a wide variety of places of historical and scenic interest. Highlights were a midnight trip to Mt. Wellington (4,000 ft., complete with snakes) and watching the sun rise from the summit, and a visit to the Cascade Brewery (even if it doesn't come from Taihape it's still the best in Australia) where the beer was on and free for over an hour.

Several sessions of Congress were addressed by guest speakers; at others students presented papers; at most of these a spirited discussion followed. These included a Broadcast symposium on Criminal Law, papers on UNESCO, on University Government and influences on it, on student newspapers and on New Zealand. At the last, unaware of the presence of a press reporter. I made some slick remarks about our State Medical Scheme, remarks which were later misquoted by several Australian and New Zealand papers. One session passed unanimously a motion disapproving of the action of the NUAUS Council decision to disaffiliate itself from IUS.

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."

General Impressions

It has been pointed out that Australia is the least satisfactory place for New Zealanders to visit, because the two countries are so similar. This is fairly true, but everything in Australia is on a larger scale. Almost everything is bigger from the coat-hanger across Sydney harbour to the percentage of alcohol in the beer. The same applies to the issues which confront the intelligent citizen. The clash between Labour and Capital is sharper and the Labour Government seems less prepared to face the issue.

Living in Sydney or Melbourne is really city life—on one hand the slum districts are larger and worse than any in New Zealand but on the other hand the opportunities for cultural activity are far greater. In Sydney the Public and Mitchell libraries combine to give an excellent library service, while in Melbourne the Art Gallery has a number of world-famous paintings. Art exhibitions and symphony concerts appear to be almost weekly occurrences.

Australian students are faced with the same problems as we are, and generally behave in the same way—a New Zealander can be at home among them in a few minutes. The Melbourne Students Union Building shows what we might have in 195X. There are two cafeterias, each four times the size of ours, a well equipped theatre which seats 500, adequate men's and women's [unclear: lounges] (no common common room a billiard room, music room and library. Their university stands on about 50 acres of ground and the chemistry block alone cost over a million pounds.

The housing shortage appears to be worse than it is here, and students are often in a desperate position. However, the setting up of a student-controlled hostel has shown the way to improve the position. It houses about 20 students and rent averages 10/- weekly. Students eat out or cook their own meals. The warden is a student and he is responsible to a committee appointed by the Students' Representation Council.

In case this is road by any Australian, I wish to apologise for any mistaken or wrong impressions I may have perpetrated, and to express my thanks to them for a most enjoyable stay in "God's Other Own Country."