The Use of the Ballot.

There is no question on which though is more confused or doubt more rife than on that of peace and war. In an attempt to clarify the situation as far as the N.Z.U. student is concerned, the New Zealand University Students' Association has drawn up a questionaire. Considerable though has been expended on the preparation of this and it follows the lines of those of other countries, especially Australia and Canada. It actually includes two of the questions contained in the League of Nations Union Ballot, which was so strikingly successful in England.

The N.Z.U. student is now to be asked his opinion and it is hoped that he will not lightly regard this opportunity of influencing his country's attitude towards these fateful problems.

The Prime Minister has said that if Great Britain became involved in war, New Zealand would also be involved "because the sentiment of this country would inevitably insist on New Zealand standing shoulder to shoulder with Great Britain in such an circumstances." If the New Zealand student agrees the knowledge of this will be of value to the Prime Minister in such an eventuality. If he does not agree it is his duty to hasten to correct a wrong impression which bristles with dangerous implications.

Again the statement has been made that 20 per cent, of the students of the Otago University subscribe to the pacifist viewpoint, but the president of the Otago University Students' Association has questioned this and thinks that the student body as a whole would fall into line with the people of the Dominion if called up to fight. Is Dr. Hawkesworth right or is he wrong, and if he is right, is his statement true of all N.Z.U. students, or only of those of Otago?

These are only some of the issues involved in this questionaire, only some of the questions we shall be able to answer when the results of the ballot are known.

The results can be of importance but will be so only if the response is a truly representative one. Hence the need for every student to voice opinion.