More maturity and wisdom

"The resurgence of student activism is a sign of maturity and of wisdom, rather than one of juvenile folly and adolescent noise."

Mr J. Henning, United States Ambassador to New Zealand, made this remark in his address at the opening of NZUSA Winter Council.

Mr Henning began his speech by outlining the tremendous opportunities available in tertiary education in the United States today.

University education was more available to the American young, than to the young of any other nation.

Even in spite of this, educational opportunity has still moved ahead in recent years.

"There are more negroes per thousand in universities in the United States than there are white people per thousand at universities in Great Britain, France or New Zealand," he said.

He then outlined details of the activities at American universities.

In particular, students had developed in three ways.

In a feeling for the negro.

In a feeling for peace.

And in a feeling for autonomy.

Mr Henning said he would speak on the first two of these, but he had no knowledge about the third.

"The negro revolt," it was explained, "would not have started without the negro, but it would not have survived without the help of whites."

This help came from many sources—the Courts, the Federal Government, the church —and particularly the students, who had gone South in their holidays to have themselves arrested.

"Even my own son was involved in this," the Ambassador concluded.