SIR,—I • would like to comment on two points in
Craig McGregor's article in the Spectator of April 27, which seems to me (with only one year's ex- perience of Australia) a very true picture of the country.
Few would quarrel with his description of the 'tired old hacks' of the State Labour Parties, yet the fact remains that in the three State elections this year those same Labour Parties have made spec- tacular gains. One majority party (NSW) has in- creased its majority, one minority party (Western Australia) has decreased its minority, and one Labour Party (South Australia) has forced the governing Liberal Party to a virtual stalemate, in spite of gerrymandered constituency boundaries. All this suggests that though the State LPs may be dated, they may yet become the vehicles of effective pro- test against the monotonies of the political status quo.
Mr. McGregor mentions the existence of Ban-the- Bomb marchers and New Left groups. My own im- pression of student political activity is very differ- ent. Though radical opinion certainly exists (organ- ised student action against the White Australia policy is much more significant than either of the above groups), the dominant impression is of apathy and reaction. Politics on a world level simply do not exist for most students, and when events do not impinge too directly on them they prefer to accept the traditional views of their parents, or the 'respectable' views of the class to which they aspire.
Armidale, New South Wales
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