Guns v. Butter

The annual report from the Executive quoted facts and figures establishing the detrimental effects of the war-drive on social services and living standards. With rampant inflation, New Zealand's education budget has increased from 9.59 million by one-third since 1949, while military expenditure has increased from 8.89 million by over two-fifths, and is now 4 million up on education. The position is worse in the U.S.A., the U.K., and Australia. On the other side, the illiteracy figure for Vietnam was 85 per cent, in 1942, and has been reduced by the People's Republic of Ho Chi Minh (formerly recognised by the French) to less than 20 per cent, in 1949. The Bulgarian 1950 budget showed 30 per cent, to Education at all levels, and 7 per cent, to arms.

Defence of peace, independent thought, standards of livelihood and education are the centre of SLF's agenda for 1951. The affiliated clubs adopted a joint programme for collecting signatures to the Stockholm Anti-Bomb Appeal, pressing for national opposition to German and Japanese rearmament, demanding adoption of the revised SLF Bursary Scheme, opposing increases in fees, working for the achievement of a National Student Health Scheme, and investigating the prices and availability of text books and hostel accommodation. Besides all this, the Federation has its perennial task of propagating the seeds of socialism in the colleges.

The Executive is to remain with VUC Socialist Club for 1951. AUC Labour Club and CUC Socialist Club show vigorous signs of life. The Canterbury Club had the biggest meeting of its history last month to hear Professor Rhodes on "Education in the U.S.S.R." and the AUC Labour Club, the [unclear: osts] this Easter, organised a well-attended study-school to accompany the conference.