Mr Lake Comments On Monk’s Visit

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31226, 25 November 1966, Page 16

Mr Lake Comments On Monk’s Visit

He did not wish to prolong discussion about the credentials of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, and the purpose of his visit to New Zealand and Australia at the time of general elections, but there were some matters that should be pointed out, the Minister of Finance (Mr Lake), the National candidate for Fendalton, said yesterday. They were:

“Thich Nhat Hanh was introduced by his sponsors in New Zealand as being, Interalia, director of the School of Social Studies, Van Hanh University in Saigon, and director of Youth for Social Service Programme of the Unified Buddhist Church,” Mr Lake said. “I am informed that Thich Nhat Hanh had been disavowed by both these organisations. “It is self evident that Thich Nhat Hanh arrived in New Zealand and Australia at a time when the general elections in these countries were approaching. Furthermore, the Federation of Labour was one of the sponsors of his meeting in the Horticultural Hall, Christchurch, on November 10. “It is stated by the chairman of the Joint Council on Vietnam that Thich Nhat Hanh believes “that the United States policy of trying to suppress Communism by military action is ineffective.” Such a statement is an attempt to smear our United States allies. They are not

trying to suppress Communism by military action. They are engaged with their allies in protecting the people of South Vietnam from Communist aggression. “Futhermore, the action is proving quite effective. The nature of this statement is in line with statements being made by Labour spokesmen and cannot therefore be divorced from politics in the context of this General Election campaign.”