RELIEF OF STUDENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 9

RELIEF OF STUDENTS.

INTERNATIONAL WORK. CONSTRI CTIVE POLICY OF SELFHELP. “Tho Brotherhood of Students” yvas tho description given to tho objective of tho International Students’ Kelief Fund by Mr Donald Grant, when lie gave an address on the work of tho fund to the New Zealand University Senate on Wednesday. Mr Grant, was associated with the fund at Vienna, and later at Geneva. Mr Grant said that the fund had been administered for the relief of the students of Europe since 1920. In May, 1925, the name of the organisation had been changed to that of the International Students’ Service. Whon the organisation was first launched it bore the name of the World’s Christian Students’ Federation, the federation at that time being the only organised student body in tho world. When the appeal had been made for the relief of students and professors <n Europe, the students in Americc. Great Britain, and other countries, including New Zealand, co-operated, the movement was sponsored by the federation, and support for the suffering was given with a good spirit. The work of relief had been impartial, and neither creed, politics, nationality, nor religion mattered so long as those in need were students of a university. In New Zealand the Christian Undents’ Federation had endeavoured to commence a campaign for support, but the committee that had undertaken the work later was more widely representative. Mr Grant related a couple of incjdente illustrative of the position at tho time relief was called for. At Vienna he had met university professors, who had 10,000 students under them, in wonderful building with a great hall that sensed of the past. The professors were talking about clothing which thev had received from other countries and of the way of distributing certain funds among the families of the professors, who were in need of relief. He had also met a rector of a university college in Ruseja, in whose place dried fish to feed . family for months ahead was placed in the corners of the steps. The family was living in two rooms in the upstairs portion of a poor house, and were in great extremities. Mr Grant said that everyone in Russia was not tarred with the brush of Bolshevism, and many of the profes s were not in agreement with the Government of the country. He had come into contact with a cultured and educated man in Czecho-Slovakia who had been a wealthy Russian. He was among the many refugees, and wa9 a waiter in a restaurant. In Vienna he had met a woman student, who was a doctor. During the day timo she practised at the hospital, but received no remuneration, and spent her nights making embroidery for sale in order to maintain herself during her studies. She was one of the many students helped by the relief fund. The first purpose of the fund was to give direct relief to the students in Europe, in the way of food, clothing, and boots. Immediately the work was commenced it had been ralised that to continue giving relief would not be a constructive polioy. The students should help themselves, it was considered, and they formed self-help organisations. Mr Grant instanced that in 1221 students in Czechoslovakia had difficulty in obtaining rooms, and had themselves built • fine hostel. The

students had also conducted laboratories for the manufacture of scientific slides for export, laundries, printing house*--, and a translating bureau, all of which had resulted in money being earned. A loan bank had also been fo ned, and when students needed money to complete their studies, it was Int them hr th bank. Those in charge of the relief fund had been compelled to advance a great part of its budget to Germany, where the students had suffered from the fall of the mark. The work was looked upon as a co-operative effort by equals —from students to students —and Germany had already paid back a portion of the relief given. The attitude of the students in Europe had been changed and now tens of thousands of students were working side by side with manual workers, where previously they had been fastidious, preferring society to work. In connection with the fund there had also been conducted four international conferences. The antagonism expected had been dealt with at the first meeting, and the delegates from all nations had departed at its conclusion in a spirit of cordiality Mr Grant recalled the second conference, which at first looked to be belond control owing to racial antipathy, but it had ended in amity. Efforts were now being made for South America to absorb the great sur plus of students and professors, who were refugees from Russia Mr Grant outlined other aim? in the programme of the fund. The relief fund had also brought about a series of international visitations and consequently the students knew more of each other to day than since the early days of universities. International friendship was also being engendered. Mr Grant said that the total amount needed for relief this year would amount to £II,OOO. He instanced the great assistance given by New Zealand in the past the Dominion having been sixth on the list of contributors last year. He was very hopeful of the future results of the work. It was a good work and would make for the good of the world Students and professors he had met in all parts of Europe had spoken in admiration of the response of New Zealand. Mr F. A. De La Mare asked if the need for relief was so great now. Mr Grant: No. The reason Js that the work has been so effectively carried out. Mr De Mare: Is there a need for the contributions’ Mr Grant: Yes, to maintain the work. The Hon. G. Fowlds said that he was very interested in the lucid and graphic address given by Mr Grant. He said he understood that there was no longer a need for clothing. Mr Grant said that the charges for transportation would not warrant the forwarding of clothes from the Dominion. On the motion of Dr J. Hight, Mr Grant was thanked for his address. In expressing to Mr Grant the hearty thanks of the Senate, the Chancellor (Professor J. Macmillan Brown) said that the work wa3 to be commended to the sympathy of every university.