“Until They Sail”

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28480, 9 January 1958, Page 3

“Until They Sail”

J su BS est to “New Zealander” that objection is not being taken by reasonable people to the film “Until They Sail” because it is not designed to insult our country at all. The film, far from being a travelogue, was intended to give a study of our women s problems in the Second World War. I would suggest that New Zealander” should see the film again to find its purpose and point. The girls of New Zealand were not “all of them, thrown on the muck heap.’’ Their rather tragic position was handled in an interesting way. Criticism may b? th® “Americanism” of the characters and their home. Nevertheless, I would suggest that it does not say much for our national character if we cannot laugh at ourselves enough to acknowledge digs at some of our more laughable foibles and idiosyncrasies. —Yours etc CHRISTCHURCH LASS. January 8. 1957.

Sir,—l am sure that many people who saw the above film must fee] as “New Zealander” does. The war has been over for so long that I feel the screening is in very bad taste after the hospitality that was given and accepted. The portrayal was not representative of the way of life of our New Zealand girls and boys. The film savoured of arrogance by the visiting forces. It revealed the investigation of our girls where marriage was contemplated but I think experience has shown that it is the visiting forces whose country in rampant in sex crime, who should have been investigated.—Yours, etc., CATHEDRAL SQUARE. January 8. 1957.