"WHO IS DR. INKSTER?"

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 53, 28 June 1940, Page 8

"WHO IS DR. INKSTER?"

Australian Students Weren't Criticised

WO young Australian university students, A. M. Jenkins, B.A., of Sydney University, and D, Campbell, B.A., of Queensland University, arrived in Auckland last week in the course of a tour of New Zealand. During this tour, which is still in progress, they are tuking® part in debates against New Zealand University, college teams and giving public addresses and radio talks on a wide range of topics, most of which, however, have some bearing on the world situdtiory’ and on the struggle which is going on in Europe at’ the present time. They were still unobserved by the Auckland University College welcoming committee when a representative of The Listener, encountered them and their luggage on the Auckland Station platform. Questioned about their’ views on the international situation, they pleadéd"practically complete ignorance, as they had not heard a radio or seen a newspaper since the 'férenoon and it was then after 4 p.m. However, though they are both here in the role of speakers, they were unanimous in the opinion that the present was a time for doing things rather than for talking about them. Conflicting Views That, however, was one of the few points on which they were unanimous. Mr. Jenkins, for example, went on to clarify his personal attitude by pointing out that though action should be the watchword nowadays, there was still a need for fullest freedom in the matter of criticism. "Fredom of speech," he said, "should not be gainsaid at any time for the tradition of liberty and freedom of speech is of fundamental importance to any progress. The right of criticism is one which should not be whittled down under any pretext." With the foregoing, however, Mr. Campbell requested that he should be completely dissociated. He does not believe in unqualified freedom of speech under circumstances such as obtain at the present time. Neither speaker, however, showed much inclination to pursue the topic. The welcom-

ing committee had now gathered round, and as the subject which the Australians were to debate with A.U.C. representatives was whether freedom of speech should be curtailed in time of war they perhaps felt that if they went further at the moment they would be disclosing information of value to the enemy. "Who is Dr. Inkster?" What, they were then asked, did they think of the opinions attributed to the Rev. Dr. J. G. Inkster? Dr. Inkster, however, had apparently caused no flutter in Australian university circles, "Who is Dr. Inkster?" they asked, in the defensive manner of debaters momentarily caught napping. It was explained that the opinion originally attributed to Dr. Inkster was that the students of Victoria University College were tinged with communism. Subsequently, however, Dr. Inkster had Stated that the opinion attributed to him was not his own but mere!y the opinion of a lecturer about the opinions of the students. The controversy had accordingly died down, the protagonists having apparently agreed to swallow the hatchet, so to speak. Having digested this information, Mr. Jenkins pointed out that.the term "communism" was generally used in the vaguest sense and very frequently was employed .to describe "anyone who disagrees with the Government." At this point, it seemed likely that Mr. Jenkins would become involved in another revealing statement about freedom of speech, but Mr, Campbell came to the rescue by explaining that as far as Queensland University was concerned, he knew of only one avowed communist there. There might be more at Sydney University (with this Mr. Jenkins agreed), but the communist element was in a decided minority. Australian Students’ Attitude ‘In any case, there was no doubt whatever where the majority of Australian university students stood in relation to the present struggle: It was recognised by the great majority that the principles of democracy and individual freedom which were in such large part the contribution of the universities to civilisation comprised the basic issue of the struggle to-day.

On the subject of whether Australia and New Zealand should send further forces overseas or concentrate all their energies on the defensive problems of the Pacific, it looked as if another impromptu debate would take place on the spot. Mr. ‘Jenkins considered that home defence was of vital importance, whereas Mr. Campbell contended that the frontiers of Australia and New Zealand were in Europe and that there the crucial battle would take place. This divergence’ of personal conviction, they explained, was not the least of their problems when preparing their case for a public debate. One of the Australian debaters will give a talk from 4YA on Friday evening, July 5, at 7.30.