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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 14, No. 4. April 26, 1951

Labour Students Confer at Auckland ... — Bursaries, China, and the Atom

Labour Students Confer at Auckland ...

Bursaries, China, and the Atom

"While current military programmes have banished any immediate danger of recession, it would be disastrous to overlook the possible effects of a drastic setback in U.S. military spending and foreign aid if relations with Russia should suddenly improve." So writes U.S. commentator Noyes, quoted in the Evening Post editorial of March 27th. In other words, capitalism depends for its illusory prosperity on international tension and the drive towards war.

Peace, democratic rights, education, economic security—all are threatened, and all are the vital concern of New Zealand students. Korea, Menzies' cuts in education expenditure, the Emergency Regulations, form a narrowing circle illustrating one point: It can Happen here.

can do to combat them, formed the main theme of the Council meeting and study-school held by the Student Labour Federation over Easter at Bayswater, Auckland.

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.

Paths to Peace

On Sunday afternoon, Professor Willis Airey (History, AUC), gave a talk to a roomful of students, with the provocative title "Recognise China." He stated that never before in our history had New Zealand been committed so far and so directly in the interests of another power in the Pacific as she was to-day. He carefully analysed the world situation of global conflict of interest and belief, and showed how the recognition of the government of China's choice could play a vital part in the achievement of world peace.

In the evening, Dr. Farley (Physics, AUC) gave his views on "Peace and the Atom." He stated that Marxists were moral relativists, and would always justify dropping A-bombs on political opponents, whereas Christians, as moral absolutists, could only use it "to restrain.

These trends, and what students evil." He would justify A-bombing on enemy troops within your own territory, on ships at sea, troop concentrations or advanced supply centres; and said "reprisals in every case are absolutely wrong." Needless to say, debate was Intense and bitter, and opinion almost unanimously opposed the learned doctor's attitude.

We are sure that, led by the Dean of Hamilton and the New Zealand Peace Council, the students of New Zealand will show they disagree with Dr. Farley when a concerted drive is made for Stockholm signatures this month.