Dr Verwoerd

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31169, 20 September 1966, Page 14

Dr Verwoerd

Sir, —I read with regret the remarks by “A.J.8.” that “Black Like Me” has no bearing on the colour question in South Africa. I would point out that it comes right to grips with conduct affecting basic human rights everywhere. When John Howard Griffin, the highly civilised author of this book, returned to his native South disguised as a Negro, he was treated, purely because of pigmentation, at levels below that of an animal where he had previously received respect as a white man. The burning ethic here is not concerned with rabble, white or black, but according to the tenet that any individual who conducts himself in a civilised manner should be at liberty to walk this earth free from discrimination of any kind. Unfortunately, this injustice exists in varying degrees wherever the colours meet. New Zealand is no exception: nor is the late Dr. Verwoerd’s Utopia.— Yours, etc., R. H. TAYLOR. September 17, 1966. Sir,—Walking up Cape Town’s main street in 1961 I noticed several groups of coloured children, aged 10 to 15, holding up pieces of cardboard on which was scrawled, “We want Mr ,” etc. Suddenly some vans with policemen in uniform, Sam Brownes, and large revolvers prominently displayed, appeared, and the children were hustled aboard and taken off. I endeavoured to ascertain what it was all about, but the onlookers were obviously too frightened to talk. Finally, 1 learnt that the children were endeavouring to have reinstated some teachers dismissed by the Government and that the children would be held by the police until about 9 p.m. and particulars of their parents would be taken. The Incident was a shocking illustration of what goes on in a police State, and the sight of those 6ft revolvercarrying policemen pushing those small children about was something to remember. It could happen in Rhodesia. —Yours, etc., OBSERVER. September 19, 1966.