Middle-Of-The-Road’ Students

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 14

Middle-Of-The-Road’ Students

Although most University of Canterbury students approve demonstrations as a way of expressing political opinions, “the student body as a whole seems far from radical, has a very small left wing, and prefers a solid, middle-of-the-road course,” accprding to an opinion survey conducted in the last week by the university’s sociology department.

Fifteen hundred students from all faculties except fine arts and music were Invited to answer a questionnaire on topics ranging from participa-

tion in last week’s demonstrations and knowledge of the Omega system to Government information practices and students* own political party leanings. Mr K. W. Schwager and Mr W. H. Foddy, lecturers in sociology, conducted the survey last Friday, Monday, and Tuesday by scientific sampling methods, punched returns on cards, and had them analysed by computer yesterday. Mr Schwager, who comes from the Netherlands, said he was surprised most by the party preferences. Thirty-six per cent stipulated National, 19 per cent Labour, and the remaining 45 per cent had other inclinations or no opinion. Forty per cent of the National Party “affiliates” took part in last Friday's street march and demonstra-

tion, 54 per cent of Labour, and 55 per cent of the others. The students' petition of protest against the Omega system was signed by 20 per cent of National supporters, 37 per cent of Labour and 34 per cent of the others. Asked whether they believed the Government had released adequate informa-

tion about the possible establishment of the Omega station, 83 per cent of National, 92 per cent of Labour, and 87 per cent of the others said “No.” Asked whether the station would be a nuclear target in an international crisis, 52 per cent of National, 66 per cent of Labour, and 58 per cent of the others considered it would.

On a question whether New Zealand and United States defence policies should be affiliated, 51 per cent of National, 74 per cent of Labour, and 67 per cent of the others said they should not be affiliated. Mr Schwager said 50 per cent of all those polled took part in the official demonstration on Friday, indicating that the crowd estimate of about 2500 was fairly accurate. Only 9 per cent took part in the unofficial Hirewood and Cathedral Square demonstration the previous Tuesday. From all these and other returns, Mr Schwager said, it seemed that the protests were chiefly about inadequate information. However, a few technical questions on Omega’s wave-lengths and navigation potential were correctly answered by most of the students.