Political Clubs of Little Value

By Tony Haas

The emergence of two new political clubs on the campus might have been expected to promote an increase in the amount of constructive political thought.

The new clubs have done little to sustain hope for this ideal of constructive political activity. The Labour Club, affiliated to the Labour Party, and the National Club, not affiliated to the National Party, are the two concerned. They supplement an existing Socialist, Anarchist, World Affairs Council and other pseudo political and near defunct clubs.

Labour group has been the more I active of the two, establishing itself before the last election and 'contributing a hard core of supporters to the campaign. They have arranged talks on the campus by Mr. Nordmeyer and Mr, Nash. In the first week of term they arranged for the MP for Lyttelton. Mr. Kirk to speak, and for a debate against the National group.

The tone of these two functions, was to say the least, uncreative. The topic of Mr. Kirk's talk "What's wrong with the National Party," indicative of the mud-slinging approach of the Labour group. The debate was on a relatively serious topic "That the Labour Party has more to offer in the future for the youth of New Zealand than has the National Party."

Earnest tripe on the one hand, and Wloquent tripe on the other hand is an adequate description of the evening's work. The lack of preparation of facts for presentaition, and the evidence of discussion on the selected topic was disappointing to anyone who had hoped to see serious issues raised.

Unless the clubs stop their mud-slinging oratory" and act like intelligent people considering politics, they can expect little more than to be regarded as a social clique devoted to the pursuit of sophistry.

There are many issues which can be discussed to social advantage and it strikes me that the university is a place where this should be done. If either, or both of the clubs, can produce sonje constructive ideas, about public affairs they will have earned themselves a well deserved amount of respect.