“Possibility” Of Student Unrest In N.Z.

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31904, 4 February 1969, Page 26

“Possibility” Of Student Unrest In N.Z.

, (New Zealand Press Association) ! WELLINGTON, February 3. The possibility of student unrest spreading to New Zealand could not be ignored, the director of student welfare at Victoria University (Mr I. H. Boyd) said today.

Mr Boyd has just returned from nine months leave overseas. He visited universities In Britain, Canada and the United States and studied student welfare services. He also saw students, university administrations and the police in violent clashes. “Two years ago people said that student unrest would not spread to Britain. But it did. So one has to have an open mind on whether it will come to New Zealand," he said. “Student unrest could spread. It depends largely on the attitude of the 'university to matters which affect its students. A lot depends on

whether the universities handle the student problems in the wrong way.” He felt there was a builtin safety factor in New Zealand the well-organised, united student associations. Another factor was student representation on the university governing bodies. The fact that American universities did not have wellorganised student associations hindered, in many cases, their desire for reform and often led to inflammatory situations.

“Only now are they beginning to realise the advantages of student associations,” he said.

Mr Boyd said the question of student unrest was a complex matter. It was not a case of students, looking for trouble.

“When you have a large group of young people you get varying reasons why they are feeling dissatisfied. But very often in the United States the racial difference and the Vietnam war are the main causes of the unrest,” he said.

In Britain the students were irked by the paternalistic attitude of the universities. “Some feel that the university there is much more interested in research programmes for the Government than in teaching the individual student. “The New Zealand university students have not usually been regarded as coming to a university where the university takes the role of parent. Fortunately, the New Zealand student is more independent”

Mr Boyd said he disagreed with Mr P. A. Amos, M.P. for Manurewa, who said recently that New Zealand students were the most docile and conforming "group in the world and that they epitomised all

that was conventional in the country’s society. New Zealand students, said Mr Boyd, did not have the same problems as did the United States students. “The Vietnam war in the United States is a highly emotional matter, particularly the associated problem of the draft. If they fail their examination then they can be drafted into service. “Other personal problems,

the racial situation particularly, heightened the tensions over there. Here the students do not have these emotional problems. “Nevertheless, our student associations have always been very concerned about matters affecting students. Any problems affecting their welfare have been promptly dealt with.”