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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 27, No. 12. 1964.

NZUSA Activates

NZUSA Activates

"New Zealand students should initiate a boycott of South African goods," said NZUSA president M. J. Moriarty recently.

He told the audience at a panel discussion held in the Memorial Theatre that students should get the people of New Zealand to boycott South African oranges, sherries and even rugby players if necessary.

"Students should take a lead against the violation of human rights in South Africa." Moriarty said.

The discussion was arranged so Victoria students could hear from members of the NZUSA delegation to the eleventh International Student Conference, held in Christchurch. The delegates discussed the effect the Conference would have in New Zealand.

Remember Sharpville

International affairs vice-president Falconer said that NZUSA had been remiss in failing to mark the anniversary of the Sharpville shooting, March 21, as a day of commemoration and solidarity with South African students. NZUSA's co-ordinating body, the resident executive, had plans for next year's anniversary, but they would have to be submitted to NZUSA council in August for a policy decision.

B. W. Middleton, NZUSA international officer supported the idea, and suggested a scheme of work days to raise money for refugee students. He said that the public would see that students were willing to do more than just talk. He spoke of the role of students as a conscience of society—they were a group with few vested interests and had a unique position from which to comment critically.

As a result of a letter published in Issue II of Salient, ("Hi Jinks in Book Trade") Technical Books Ltd. of Wellington, have written a letter of explanation to Salient.

This will be published in the next issue.

Falconer told the meeting that NZUSA had been elected to the Supervision Committee of the ISc, and would be part of the Asian area's representation. India was the other Asian delegate-union. "We will press for national seminars in South Vietnam and South Korea and an investigation of the student situation in Indonesia," he added.

New Zealand's immigration policy was attacked by Moriarty, who declared it to be clearly racist in character. "We have a duty to protest," he told the panel.

"Non-involvement" Fading?

The attitude of panel members suggested that NZUSA had altered its former policy of non-involvement in political affairs, clearly as a reaction to the ISC, which stressed the role of students in society. They appeared to agree that students should speak out against oppression and injustice, whether at home or overseas. The South African question, as well as New Zealand's censorship and immigration laws were mentioned.

Such a policy change has yet to be confirmed, as new policy must be approved by Council, meeting twice a year during tournaments. It consists of representatives of all university students' associations in the country, and any new policy ideas originating from resident executives must be submitted to it.

The August meeting of Council will determine whether or not a new policy is to be adopted.

Printed by Truth (N.Z.) Limited. 23-27 Garnett Street. Wellington, for the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association.