“Compass”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31188, 12 October 1966, Page 16

“Compass”

Sir, —Mr Greene himself is silly enough to get his facts wrong. Mr Bick wanted to interview members of the Decimal Currency Board, not members of Parliament. Mr Parry, who was also to appear, is critical of Australia’s prolonged change-over, which is being copied here. This was not Mr Bick’s first experience of interference with programmes. Mr Boshier was not “caught out”: and as a Ph.D. student he is entitled to be a National Club member, although his views would debar him from holding office. The Students’ Association objected to Mr Laurenson’s attempting to obtain security information to catch Mr Boshier out. —Yours, etc., JOHN WILSON. October 11, 1966.

Sir, —The recent allegation of censorship from within our N.Z.B.C. has provided fuel for political fires. In Monday’s “Looking at Ourselves,” P. J. Downey suggested the N.Z.B.C. endeavour to present a balanced point of view, not within one programme but in an over-all number. This formula, he stated, would preserve the balance the corporation so desires and at the same time present something a little more stimulating. Will this 'suggestion fall on deaf ears? Apparently so. Mr Downey may not have realised this was the last “Looking at Ourselves” for some time. Our corporation will not allow us to look at ourselves again until after the elections.—Yours etc.,

ANDREW J. McNEILL. October 10, 1966.

Sir, —In this morning’s edition, Michael Greene, in his eagerness to defend the Government party on the question of suppression of dissemination of information on questions of public concern and the protection of the citizens

against any possible O.G.P.U. or Gestapo, has followed the usual National Party trick of endeavouring to divert public attention away from essentials. Mr Kirk, more power to him, has protested, as is his duty to defend the rights of the citizens against exploitation, and victimisation by intolerance. He has done his duty, whereas Mr Holyoake, by his defence of the indefensible, has shown that he and his party followers are unworthy of positions of responsibility in any democratic organisation. It now appears in the interests of democracy that it is more than time to change the Government.— Yours, etc., POLITICAL FREEDOM. October 10, 1966.

[This correspondence is now closed.—Ed., “The Press.”]