Hong Kong Refugees

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29844, 9 June 1962, Page 3

Hong Kong Refugees

Sir.—Man ia the moat intelligent of the animate, but also the ablest a* finding excuses tor hte atupidtPeo, which are sometimes monumental. Neverthelesa, I agree with bottP “Freedom of Choice" and "N.Z.” that New Zealand could scoommodate some Chinese refugees from Hong Kong during this period when Communist Chins is striker by drought and a serious flood shortage. However, the selection at refugees should be done with care. Many of the Hong Kong refugees are spivs and criminals escaping into Hone Kong, which was grabbed from China by us oalosualists by force of arms. We could, with profit, include a few Chinese from the interior. We might then be in a better position to imbibe some knowledge of what the mainland Chinese have achieved. We could remember for example, that Red China has mastered the development from medieval times to the modern age in one decade. No wonder Europeans are scared Yours, etc , RALPH S. WHEELER. Timaru, June 6. 1962,

Sir,—The recent letters by "Z” and “NZ.” make me feel ashamed of being a New Zealander. Unless New Zealand wakes up to the fact that it is grossly underpopulated. we will find ourselves completely overwhelmed when the far eastern population bomb finally explodes, and we msy find ourselves forced to share, or worse still, give, our bountiful country to 30 or 49 million homeless, semi-starved Orientals. We will have no defence unless we expand our own population by the assimilation of the. maximum possible number of immigrants of widely varying origins. This would make us a much less tempting target without the risk of New Zealand’s losing its national identity. Of course our high standard of living may fall, but that Is preferable to having no standard of living. All I ask is that my children are spared the fate of being put against the wall and shot to make room for horde* of homeless invader* from our neighbouring territories.— Yours, etc., CASEY. June 8, 1962.

Sir,—Obviously It would •be the ideal solution for the Chinese refugees to overthrow their Communist “overlords” and stay st home, as “Z“ suggests, specially now. with CORSO, hoping to establish birth control. I thought everybody knew that, from about the age of five. But how? Surely one might expect something a little more constructive. What about Hungary, as just one example of a people trying—and dying—to shake off the iron yoke? Has “Z” heard nothing of Communist methods to quell the weak and defenceless? The Chinese “overlords” are still more savagely ruthless. Will “Z” say exactly what he himself would do if placed in similar circumstances to the refugees?—Yours, etc.. A TRAGEDY INDEED! June 8. 1962

Sir,—l am inclined to agree with “Z" and “N.Z.” that this Christian duty is being carried a bit too far, even in our own welfare State. Some people seem to overlook the fact that the hardworking taxpayer is only human also. —Yours, etc., PATIENCE WEARING THIN June 8, 1962.