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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 29, No. 1. 1966.

Recognising our society

Recognising our society

Students are certainly one of the worst-off sections of the community, in Wellington at least.

But there is one section of the community which is demonstrably worse off.

They are the old age pensioners, workingmen and women existing on the thin government pension.

This association's executive would do well to consider whether students do not have a special responsibility towards this section of the community.

After all, they built the state in which we now live, and which supports this university.

There are times of the year at which the magnificent facilities of the Student Union are hardly used by students. The May and August vacations, for instance.

It would surely be possible to select one such day and invite the old age pensioners of Wellington to visit our university.

For a nominal sum we could provide a substantial hot meal. We could hire and show films they like but do not get a chance to see.

We could show what man has learnt in the many years since they have been alive, in the sciences and the arts.

When one considers the large sums the association spends on its members, it would seem highly reasonable that a few pounds be used to provide such a day.

This must not be considered as charity, as a time for propaganda, or another public relations stunt.

It is a chance to pay a collective tribute to the men and women who worked to build this country, yet are now denied even a subsistence income.

It would be our chance to show we have not forgotten.—H.B.R.