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International

Priorities set in the International Commission reflected New Zealand's recognition of her responsibility to and membership of the Pacific and Asia.

One of the main compaigns will be in support of the people of East Timor in their struggle for self-determination and independence from Indonesia. Also, NZUSA will continue to fight the government's cutbacks in the number of overseas students admitted into New Zealand universities.

A motion was passed condemning the US and USSR military, political and economic competition as being contrary to the independence and development of all other nations. Muldoon has drawn N.Z. into this competition, aligning us with the U.S., withdrawing N.Z. support for a nuclear free Pacific and allowing nuclear warships to dock here. Thus the other main priority will be opposing visits of nuclear military vessels in our ports and campaigning for a Nuclear Free Zone in the Pacific.

The only gripe I have about the International commission is that rather than making policy on the basis of conscience we listened to speakers on issues we were unfamiliar with and were then asked to vote.

Consequently, we could not be sure we were representing students, and listening to speakers who took up time that should have been spent debating policy and formulating campaigns on the basis of that policy.

One answer would be to have greater inter-campus and NZUSA contact throughout the year to change ideas and co-ordinate campaigns.

At present inter-campus contact is nil and Vic's relationship with NZUSA is such that often they are telling us what to do for a campaign that we had no part in organising.

Inevitably greater co-ordination would involve more Money and this won't be forthcoming until students are convinced that New Zealand's situation (and thus their own personal situation) is largely determined by international developments

Convincing students of this is what the international affairs committee is all about. - concentrating on different international issues that directly involve New Zealand.

If you want to help, come to the next international affairs committee meeting on Monday, 24th May, 12 noon in the Boardroom.

- Leonie Morris