GROUP MOVEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 51, 29 August 1934, Page 14

GROUP MOVEMENT

STUDENTS' ORGANISATION

BROAD AIMS DEFINED

Evidence points to the existence of

marked enthusiasm mnong Kew Zv.uhuid university students for the forma lion of sonio group movement for tin

purpose of research into current, social and. economic conditions, states the Chrisl.cliurch "Times.'' In recent years references have often been made- to the1 political apathy and "senility" of students, ones Canterbury College lecturer having even described them as "the old men of the place," but, the recent, visit of the American debater, Mr. lloberk K. Burns, has succeeded in revealing the- presence of what seems to bo a definite current of energy and enthusiasm which it is proposed to harness for useful and productive research purposes. Is'or is the feeling confined to the students of Canterbury College. Members of the stafEs and students of the other threo university colleges are all anxious to further the proposal, according to Mr. Burns, and now representatives of the four colleges have entered into correspondence upon the subject of co-operation.

Definite organisation plans are still in the process of revision, but the pro sidfint of the Canterbury College Students' Association, Mr. B. A. Barrer, stated that the students' executive of the college would thoroughly investigate the -whole matter early next term, in September. It had been suggested that the Dominion movement should bo sponsored by Iho reccntly-ineorpor ated Now Zealand University Student!*' Association, which had its present headquarters in Dunedin, added Mr. Barrer, and it had been ascertained that (he present president was among the most, enthusiastic of students interested.

At an informal meeting on Saturday afternoon of representative 'students, presided over by Mr. Barrer, Mr, Burns spoke of the enthusiasm of the other threo colleges, and sketched the most successful methods of the American Youth Movement for Recovery and Peace. ,

■ A sounding of opinions among the mass of students revealed that any

sanely conceived and well-planned effort to stimulate student and public opinion would be sure of strong support. The broad aims of such a movement, would bo to investigate exhaustively the underlying causes of national and social problems, such as unemployment and bad working conditions, m: international economic and political problems, paying special attention to the causes of war; in short, to place before the public, vital facts which would otherwise remain unknown.