"N.Z. Policy To China Based On Falsehood”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 14

"N.Z. Policy To China Based On Falsehood”

New Zealand’s policy towards China was based on falsehood, Mr W. T. G. Airey, a former Auckland University history professor, told a meeting of the New Zealand —China Society in Christchurch last evening. New Zealand should try to gain a truer picture of China as it was today, he said. Allegations that China wanted war were not true, he said. China wanted peace in which it could develop. New Zealand would be doing itself, China, and humanity a disservice if it held to the view that the Chinese sought war. “New Zealand must believe that China wants peace,” he said. Professor Airey said he had made four visits to China, the first in 1931, and the last in March of this year. N.Z. View To look at China through New Zealand eyes would result in a “very grim picture,” he said.

But an attempt to view China through Chinese eyes resulted in a very different picture being formed. The confidence of the people in their ability to succeed in the future was ever present. The feeling a visitor gained after seeing the way the Chinese had worked together, even with primitive means, was probably the best cure available for much of the disillusionment, scepticism and cynicism in the world today. Everywhere Chinese people spoke of how much their lot had improved since the revolution. They now had secure employment, reasonable wages and no tyranny from bosses, he said.

The Chinese admitted they had made mistakes in the past but felt they had learned from their mistakes, he said. They now sought a better balance between agriculture and industry. The commune farms had not disappeared as had been reported, he said. The Chinese held that but for the communes the bad seasons of recent years would have been even worse.

Towards the end of 1965 all foreign debt would have been paid and recent oil discoveries had made the country selfsufficient in petroleum fuels. “Under those conditions China will have more to help others and more to help itself,” said Professor Airey.