PEACE AND WAR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 304, 21 November 1935, Page 16

PEACE AND WAR

ATTITUDE OF STUDENTS. MASSEY COLLEGE VOTE. WELLINGTON, Nov. 21. The ballot conducted by the New Zealand University Students’ Association on the subject of the attitude of the New Zealand student to the problems of peace and war lias now been completed, and an analysis of the results is being made under the supervision of Dr J. T. Campbell, lecturer in mathematics at Victoria University College, Wellington. The results obtained at Victoria College, where some 73 per cent, of the students recorded votes, and at Massey Agricultural College, where almost 100 per cent, of the students voted, were released last night by Nil* A. T. S. McGhie, secretary of the New Zealand University Students’ Association. The analysis of returns from Massey Agricultural College, Palmerston North, is:— SECTION A. 1. Would you resist without question a threatened invasion of New Zealand? —Yes, 68.5 per cent. No, 20.4 per cent. Indecisive, 11.1 per cent. 2. Would you take part in a war to assist Great Britain, no matter what the cause or occasion, to which Great Britain had committed herself?—Yes, 18.5 per cent. No, 76 per cent. Indecisive, 5.5 per cent. 3. If the League of Nations declares a State an aggressor—(a) Would you be in sympathy with economic and non-military measures against it—Yes, 100 per cent. (b) If these failed, would you participate in a war against it?—Yes, 57.4 per cent. No, 24.1 per cent. Indecisive, 18.5 per cent. 4. Are you in favour of an international police force controlled by the League of Nations, in place of national armies?—Yes, 66 per cent. No, 18.9 per cent. Indecisive, 15.1 per cent. SECTION B. 1. Are you in favour of an all-round reduction of armaments by international agreement?—Yes, 94.3 per cent. No, 3.8 per cent. Indecisive, 1.9 per cent. 2. Are you in favour of the reduction of armaments by the British Empire, irrespective of the action of other countries?-—Yes, 7.4 per cent. No, 85.2 per cent. Indecisive. 7.4 per cent. 3. Would you oppose the revival of compulsory military training in peace time in New Zealand?—Yes, 59.2 per cent. No, 38.9 per cent. Indecisive, 1.9 per cent. 4. In the event of war to-morrow would you—(a) Voluntarily enlist (or urge your friends to do so)? —Yes, 24.5 percent. No, 43.4 per cent. Indecisive, 32:1 per cent. (b) Undertake other war work?—Yes, 21.3 per cent. No, 40.4 per cent. Indecisive, 38.3 per cent. (c) Oppose the introduction of coiled) Oppose war? —Yes, 46.9 per cent. No, 20.8 per cent. Indecisive, 33.3 per cent.

scription?—Yes, 38 per cent. No, 40 per cent. Indecisive, 22 per cent. 5. Should the manufacture and sale of armaments for private profit be prohibited by international agreement?— Yes, 88.6. per cent. No, 7.6 per cent. Indecisive, 3.8 per cent. SECTION C.

Do j r ou think—1. That the overthrow of capitalism offers hope of permanent peace?—Yes, 7.6 per cent. No, 67.9 per cent. Indecisive, 24.5 per cent.

2. That the development of the League of Nations offers hope of permanent peace?—Yes, 79.2 per cent. No, 5.7 per cent. Indecisive, 15.1 per cent.

3. That the general acceptance of Christianity as exemplified, e.g., in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew v) offers hope of permanent peace?—Yes, 49.1 per cent. No, 20 per cent. Indecisive, 30.9 per cent. On the last question on the paper, “In what order of importance would you place your answers to C 1,2, 3,” the favourite order at Massey College was 2,3, 1.