Non-thinking students in National Party

The small attendance of National Party supporters at the VUW National Club's seminar on conservatism last weekend illustrates the nature of student support for the Party.

Whereas in contrast to the "Junats" one might expect university National supporters to be interested in politics, this is in fact not so.

The majority are not aware of their reasons for supporting the Party. In most cases they are following their parents—that is they join because it is the thing to do.

They believe the National Party to be more right than wrong, without considering why.

Although many may be shocked by those students who support the National Party in such an undiscriminating manner, a study of the Party in office will explain the absence of politically aware and informed students.

The National Party has no philosophy—it is a party of expediency. Proposals for change are first tested for administrative feasibility and then for political expediency.

The goal of the Party is to gain and retain political power. It must be remembered this goal was determined and is pursued by the parliamentary side and not the activists, who have quite different ideas.

Consequentially the National Government has absolutely no idea or interest in where it is leading the country.

It is not prepared to subordinate its own interests for the national interest.

It endeavours to convince the public the former is the latter.

Thus students who are conscious of the thinking behind National actions And it difficult to attach themselves to the organisation. Because expediency and not a set of beliefs determines the course of action an intelligent and the Party are unlikely to agree for long.

The major reason for joining the National Party should be to protect and promote personal interests.

As the Party doesn't act in accord with its professed beliefs about private enterprise and freedom of the individual, etc., personal material advantage is a rationalisation of membership.

Students have few interests in need of special protection and so the occasion rarely arises.

The only rationalisation left for student activity in the National Party is a desire to enter politics and a belief the "National way" is the path to greater influence and power.

As few students seriously intend entering politics we can expect the VUW National Club will, unlike its opposite number, continue to be dominated by non - thinking National Party supporters.

—B.G.S.