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Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 6, June 24th, 1949.

Communism and the Chancellor — The Russians Hate You!

Communism and the Chancellor

The Russians Hate You!

"How sentiments of hatred towards opponents of the Soviet system are inculcated in young Russians was shown by Sir David Smith, Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, in an address to the Wellington Rotary Club. Sir David quoted from the textbook on education for Soviet Training College students, the title of which is, "I Want To Be Like Stalin."

—Wellington Press Report, May 25, 1949.

The halls of Western Culture are echoing to the noise of those who have risen up to save us from Communism. No less persons than the Dominion Executive of the R.S.A., the Minister of Labour, Field-Marshal Smuts, the Governor-General of New Zealand, and P. Fraser have all within a space of a few weeks given forth solemn utterances warning us of the immediate danger of destruction by the dark forces of social progress.

How fitting, therefore, that our Chancellor should have chosen this very moment to be outspoken, too, in his fearless speech before the Rotary Club. But what a shame that he should have chosen to produce some evidence and that it should have been such a well-known old fraud as the alleged Soviet teachers' manual!

On 3rd September of last year, an article appeared in the English "Daily Mirror," headed "Know These Russians." It professed to be made up of quotations from a book, "I Want To Be Like Stalin," allegedly a translation of a Russian teaching manual. This was read with great interest, especially as the English translation of the Russian original was remarkably free. The title of the book, according to the Russian authors, was. "Pedagogy, a Manual for Students in Training College." This was duly translated, "I Want To Be Like Stalin."

Other little dodges were employed to make the volume more interesting such as the translating of "clothes" as "uniforms" throughout the book.

Mrs. Beatrice King, the well-known authority on Soviet education, wrote pointing out these unfortunate errors to the "Daily Mirror." That paper did not see fit to publish her letter.

Our Chancellor, too, has been written to, offering to submit the Russian title at the book to impartial translation. His reply is eagerly awaited. Good luck, Chancellor. Keep trying!

—H. C. E.