During the last Election campaign you [unclear: uy] have been surprised to hear of [unclear: luldoon's] vociferous attacks on the "self-[unclear: Hifessed] intelligensia" at Victoria University Even more unexpectedly these attacks [unclear: ere] addressed not at students but at staff.

Though Muldoon's ravings obviously [unclear: ad] an ulterior motive, this is not the first [unclear: ime] that the left, whether staff or students, [unclear: aj] been subject to verbal or physical [unclear: ssaults]. At the height of the left's strength [unclear: n] the late 40's it was considered such a hreat by the government that the drama [unclear: eviewi] were banned because of their [unclear: subersive] nature and progressive thought.

The "Left" has had a varied and [unclear: turbusnt] history at Victoria. With the cold war [unclear: he] "right" gained more strength on campus [unclear: nd] defeated the "left" in the organised [unclear: tudent] movement. By the early 50's, [unclear: vith] the demise of the Student Labour [unclear: deration] and the Socialist clubs, political [unclear: rpnintions] on campuses were largely [unclear: onfined] to student clubs associated with [unclear: he] political parties.— National and [unclear: Labour].

The late nineteen sixties saw a revival of "left" organisations on campuses such as the Socialist Club at Victoria University, which feel apart in the early seventies [unclear: argely] as a result of the sharpening of [unclear: onflict] in the anti-war movement. In 1972[unclear: he] Socialist Action League established the [unclear: foung] Socialists clubs on campuses and [unclear: he] YS started to carry out organised [unclear: Mlitical] work among students e.g. it [unclear: started] to run YS tickets in the students' associ [unclear: elections].

Largely as a result of the intense [unclear: politici struggle] within the anti-war movement (which was fundamentally a struggle between the Marxist-Leninist line of supporting the political demands of the National Front for Liberation of Vietnam and the [unclear: Trotskytte] line of opposing these demands), a number of progressive students began to unite politically, very often on the simple platform of combating the Trotskyites. These progressive" students were essentially drawn from the ranks of the Labour Club (which was nearly purgedhy the Labour Party leadership) and the Student Christian Movement. However, reflecting their ideological confusion these "left" groupings tended to concentrate on political work in the Association particularly after it largely won the elections for the 1973 executive. Consequently no independent left student organisation was built on campus which would initiate activity, draw new people in, and develop mass student contact.

The Students' Association by-election in 1974 saw the emergence of a challenge from the right for the position of student president. Associated with National Party and pro-apartheid elements, the right-wing candidate campaigned never-the less on a platform of representing the students, and accused the left of failing to do this. The programme adopted by the right-wing candidate was a crude reflection of its political bankruptcy, but in a [unclear: relativly] low poll, he won a convincing victory. He resigned not long after being elected. In 1977 a right-wing candidate stood for and won the presidential elections in a significantly low turn out, only to resign 3 days later. Though there was no real left-wing opposition, the positive vote, albeit low for that candidate showed a significant weakening of progressive forces.

In the elections for the 1978 President, the "left" candidate won convincingly against right-wing opposition. However this was reversed in the subsequent election for the 1979 Presidency, where a per-[unclear: person] standing on a so-called" moderate anti-left" platform won in a significantly low turn out.

The National Situation

Last year many students expressed concern at the growing trends towards the right, not only in the university but in society generally. The Muldoon government's track record on attacks on people's democratic rights has alarmed many students. These onslaughts to people's civil Liberties have included the 1976 amendment to the Industrial Relations Act and the Commerce Act, theoretically denying workers the right to strike, the 1977 controversial SIS legislatic and the archaic Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act.

Despite 1978 being an election year these attacks continued, with voluntary Union Ballots being forced on the Portland Cement Workers and the Ice-Cream Workers to name just a few. The Clerical workers Union was even denied the "priviledge" of a ballot. Just before the election the Government enhancing its union bashing image, bluntly declared it a voluntary union.

The rights of speakers from overseas such as Jose Horta and the NZUSA Southern Africa Scholar to inform the New Zealand public the reality of their situations has been denied. Trevor Richards was branded as a "Traitor" for having the gumption to question the government over Gleneagles. As" a fresh injustice on top of all the others the Maori peoples of New Zealand have suffered, the Government launched a massive police and army manoeuver against the occupiers of Bastion Point, a chilling example of the powers of the state.

Though only 2 months have passed in 1979, the Muldoon Government has already waged a massive campaign against New Zealanders standard of living. Electricity prices have risen by 42%, and milk by 50% bread prices are expected to rise soon too.

The Difficulties of Students

In the university the trend to the right has expressed itself by the growing popularity of the "representatives of the right" at SRC and an increasingly narrow vote over left wing issues. It is also expressed by the increasing attacks by the right on the validity of SRC's and a move away from the SRC as the policy making body to a desire to establish the Executive as the sole political force on campus.

This year's students will see continuing attacks on their living standards, on university facilities and on teaching conditions. To examine these attacks in detail one has only to look at the level of student allowances. In real terms i.e. in terms of the value of the dollar in 1975, the value of the bursary in 1978 was $16.40. This of course does not take into account the fact that out of the 6000 students at Victoria only 3000 received any bursary at all last year, and of these only half received the unabated rate.

As well as the problem of inadequate income during the academic year, students also face serious unemployment problems during the long vacation. Over 15% of students were either employed under the Student Community Service Programme or registered as unemployed these holidays. Consequently, 1979 will be a difficult year for a great many students, especially those living away from home. University education will become even more the domain of the children of the rich.

With the introduction of internal assessment, and heavier workloads, students have even less time to participate in extracurricular activities or even to fully understand their academic courses. It is essential that students have a choice of their assessment techniques and a voice in deciding their workloads.

In 1977 and 1978, library hours were severly reduced and cuts made to the periodicals and book allowance. The Library, as every student knows, is the centre of academic life. When hours are reduced, particularly before examination times, and vital books and periodicals are unavailable, then students are directly affected.

This year the University administration will try to pass the burden of payment for Welfare and Union Services over to the students. They will try to make the students pay for all the running costs of the Union, Gymnasium and possibly such services as the Student Health and Counselling services. This will mean the Students' Association fee over half of which goes to cover the costs of running the present facilities or for building new ones, will have to be substantially raised.

Fight Back

In order to organise against the "right" onslaught both at University and in society it is essential that progressive students are organised into a strong united, "broadly left" organisation. Last year the Progressive Student Alliance was formed to provide a progressive base for students who wished to participate and actively fight for progressive policy at Student Representative Council meetings, and to organise against the onslaught to our living standards, civil liberties and conditions of study.

The Progressive Student Alliance (PSA) is an open democratically run organisation which meets regularly and organises a number of forums, seminars and social activities. Any student, no matter what their level of political understanding, is always welcomed.

Last year the PSA organised a highly successful picket outside the National Party Conference and a major demonstration outside Muldoon's election meeting at the Wellington Town Hall. Seminars on "Socialism in New Zealand" and the state of the Students' Association were also held. PSA also took an active role in the bursaries and abortion campaigns.

Lindy Cassidy