STUDENTS' RIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1934, Page 8

STUDENTS' RIGHTS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —One of your correspondents, and Mr. Hislop and your own editorial columns, have contributed >to this new revival of the war controversy by sneering and abusive remarks calculated to bring the university students and tho No-More-War movement into contempt." It is obvious that this method of attack, whilst it may afford some emotional release to your supporters, is hardly, like to convert your opponents, but will more probably have the opposite effect. However, tho issue has been raised as to whether the students should be given some attention when they, pass resolutions or merely subjected to ridicule, and I should thercforo like the opportunity to reply. In tho first place, nearly all the stndonfs who voted for the resolution which has so irritated and alarmed the gentle-

men mentioned above, either possess or will very soou possess the power to vote and therefore they are fully entitled to call uppn the Prime Minister and the legislature to give consideration to their views. . They can claim, I think, to bo fairly well educated, and since they are young men and with very little money they arc not liable to be biased as older men are who do not possess tho generous impulses'and the vitality of youth, and are • more likely to' bo influenced by their vested interests. If "Solomon" (goodness knows why he chose that pseudonym) had ever : attended a university he would know that it is the more brilliant type of youth—the' type that is able to speak and write well—who takes part in this kind of activity. What your correspondent calls "the healthy-minded youngsters", are usually the mediocre, conventional kind who are really not fitted for a university education. But the cardinal point is that it is young men who will be called1 upon to'do the fighting and get killed. When the next war breaks out there will be no talk of ."fledglings animated by their own arrogant self-estimate"; there will be posters along every street telling them how. much their country needs them', and how clearly it is their duty to go and kill other young men and get killed themselves;' old men. with tears in- their eyes,; will make sentimental speeches 'at war memorials about the glorious sacrifice of youth; and how they only wished, they were younger; and certainly if "Solomon" wrote such a letter, ridiculing youth in- war, time, he might quite possibly find/himself ~in gaol. In view of these facts, have not the youths who -vrillbe called upon" to do the fighting ■ a right to demand consideration of their opinion about the matter? I submit' that this contention is irrefutable. Finally, I should like to point out to those bigotec Tories who, for obvious reasons, prefer abuse to argument in this controversy, that if they have property to protect they would be well advised not to treat the workless, discontented,- and disillusioned youth of today with brusque contempt on the one hand, and then, on the other, to impress upon them the justice of the doctrine of righting grievances by resort to armed force.—l am, etc., -.-.■■'. ".. STUDENT.