Active Fabian Group At University

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31729, 12 July 1968, Page 12

Active Fabian Group At University

A Fabian Society, started among students and staff at the University of Canterbury this year claims to be the most active political group to have functioned there. But its activities are said to be “more progressive and reformist than party political.”

Most of the members have Labour Party inclinations but in this context they are more interested in research and information. An unusual feature, for a students’ group, is the society’s research committee organisation. A foreign affairs committee is investigating New Zealand’s relations with Australia, China’s role in Asia and the Pacific, and New Zealand’s foreign alliance structure.

A welfare state committee is examining social security, housing, employment and manpower, family law and child welfare. There is another committee on Maori education. Mr Bruce Taylor, an executive member, said all these surveys were expected to be thorough, taking a year at least, with a view to publicationof reports which might Cadets’ Visit An officer and six cadets of the United States Civil Air Patrol are due to arrive at Christchurch aboard a United States Air Force aircraft on July 24. The escorting officer is Lieutenant-Colonel P. King, of El Monte, California. The cadets are drawn from California, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida, Alabama and Illinois. During most of the tour, of New Zealand, which will end on August 9, the party will be accommodated in private homes, the host? being parents of Air Training Corps cadets. A party of New Zealand Air Training Corps cadets is now touring the United States under the international cadet exchange scheme.

influence party or national policies. The Fabian Society would not, itself, push any idea politically but party groups might take them up. Talks and discussions are held every two or three weeks. Recent topics have included the rush on gold and the new morality and coming topics include defence policy, selection for the university, and development of agriculture.

In co-operation with other student groups, a seminar was held on mass communication.