Student Labour Congress

The New Zealand Student Labour Federation held its first separate Congress at Curious Cove from 31st January to 4th February.

Victoria College Socialist Club members made up the bulk of those present, but the enthusiasm of the others made up for their lack of numbers.

The holding of a separate Congress apart from N.Z.U.S.A. was not thought to be desirable by those present The decision to hold a February meeting of N.Z.U.S.A. Congress meant however that many school-teacher students were unable to attend and S.L.F. was compelled to organise a short session of its own. "Bonk" Scotney, the President of the Federation, opened the Congress with an analysis of the World Crisis of Capitalism. He pointed out the fact that though there is an appearance of solidity in the West this is not entirely true. The competitive nature of capitalism ultimately brings about a political cleavage within us own sphere. The nervousness and back sliding of the Britten and French Governments on policy towards China is a clear example of this. At Canterbury College Socialist moved that S.L.F. should promote the formation of "China Recognition Society" in the separate Colleges.

Wolfgang Rosenberg led the discussion on the Colombo Plan and its place in Imperialist plans for dealing with the unrest in South East Asia. An. examination of the amount of money to be apportioned to "social capital" (educational services etc.) and that to be devoted to transport development varies significantly between countries such as India with a nominal independence, and countries such as Malaya, having only a colonial status, Mr. Rosenberg saw the greatest deficiency of the scheme in the complete absence of any programme for industrialization geared to a mechanised agriculture plan. Mr. Ferguson of the Wellington Peace Council was the next speaker on the programme. He outlined the peace question and its relation to TJ.N.O. Later Congress unanimously paased a resolution affirming support for the decision of the International Union of Students conference which made the struggle for peace the first task for students everywhere. The third discussion centred chiefly around questions of domestic concern. The increasing cost of education which is immediately reflected in increased examination fees and the general rise in living costs due to the re-armament policy were chief among the issues raised.

While questions of great moment occupied the attentions of students in the morning sessions the rest of the day was generally left free for recreations and frivolity of all sorts. There was certainly no diversion more successful than the finning and although some accounts as yet remain unverified it is suspected that many leviathans of fabulous proportions were hooked out of the waters of the Sound. The meals were excellent.