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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 13, No. 2. March 2nd, 1950

Iss Needs You!

page 3

Iss Needs You!

International: ISS covers most of Europe, S.E. Asia, N. America, China, Japan, etc. The Near and Middle East and South America are not included, hut attempts are being, made to cover these countries.

Student: is taken to mean all the people connected with the University. Staff-student co-operation is a basic factor in ISS.

Service: ISS is a practical body and less concerned with mere expression of opinion than moat other international student bodies.

Early in February Dr. Wolantis, World Secretary of ISS paid a flying visit to New Zealand—at the end of his term in South East Asia. He spoke in the Women's Common Room at Victoria to a surprising large gathering.

In a brief introduction Robin Bisley, Dominion Secretary of ISS, explained that Dr. Wolantia is Swedish, was president of the Swedish National Union of Students, and is now General Secretary of ISS.

ISS was begird after the first World War, Dr. Wolantis told us, by students and professors as a means of providing material relief to the universities of Europe. Its limited funds came solely from students and university staff, and what Dr. Wolantis described as the principle of "help to self-help" arose. This meant finding active groups within needy countries who would put relief funds to good use. The need for the exchange of information and ideas was found to be as important as the need for material relief—it was impossible to keep even material relief going unless the groups were stimulated by contacts from other countries. 'Thus arose the other functions of ISS—Research into World University Problems, and Education for International Understanding.

ISS is pledged to support alt efforts to better material conditions in the Universities and also to support all universities' needs. It follows a policy of non-discrimination for race, nationality, political or religious convictions. It continued its total programme until 1939, when the war forced it to revert to merely material relief. At this stage a new organisation—World Student Relief—was set up to administer relief to European and Eastern universities. Its constituents are the five international student organisations:—international Union of Students, International Student Service, World Student Christian Federation, Pax Romana and World Union of Jewish Students. From 1943 to 1948 this body raised four million dollars. After 1945 communication and exchange again became possible and the need for relief gradually became leas acute.

W.S.R. was set up as a purely temporary body for purposes of material relief only.

It has again become desirable to integrate the various activities of ISS. Conditions now are parallel to those of the twenties—relief cannot proceed satisfactorily without the two complementary factors of Research and Education for International Understanding.

South East Asia is a good example of how this integration is being attempted by ISS. It is only since the beginning of the Second World War that ISS has become established in this area, in order to provoke and retain the interest of university groups in these countries ISS is concentrating on it to the extent of one third of the total budget. The annual ISS conference in 1948 was to have been held in Burma, but internal warfare prevented this. However the next annual conference will be held in India in August of this year. This conference is the major event in the programme for international understanding. The international seminar will also, be held in India, Here the people who send relief meet the people who receive and administer it. A conference on problems of South East Asia is planned and is to behold in Singapore.

N.Z. Leads

New Zealand has so far been one of the best fundraising countries, Judged on the amount per student. Our chance to contribute will come when ISS work days are advertised and college collections made. One important thing which any and all students can do immediately is start correspondence with a student in our special overseas university. For more information on this call at the Exec. Room.

In answer to a question Dr. Wolantis made some remarks about relief work in particular countries.

China: Material relief has been administered by the same nucleus of people since 1937, and it is still being carried out on a non-discriminatory basis. These people would give notice immediately if this became no longer possible.

Indonesia: Here there are two universities, a Dutch centred in Batavia and a Republican in Jogjakarta. Both are working under sever hardships—the Republican university has not even proper buildings or equipment. The students are extremely capable, and are carrying out a good deal of administration. ISS has a programme of support for hostels, and for supply of books and periodicals.

Burma: Here also there has grown up a very competent generation of students who are coping well with their many difficulties. In one case lack of money baa forced a thousand students in hostels to cut their food to starvation level.

Pakistan: There are serious problems here as a result of the partition. A considerable loss of teaching staff has been accompanied by an influx of refugee students.

Vietnam: Much the same remarks apply as were made about China-There is a very active group of students working for ISS.