Aid For Vietnam

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31315, 10 March 1967, Page 12

Aid For Vietnam

Sir, —Your editorial, “Vietnam commitment increase,” is a trifle vague. “Recruiting the extra men raises problems,” is one sentence which is most difficult to understand. Your editorial states: “No new principle is involved” anj at the last general election 43 per cent of the electors voted for the National Party, whose principle is responsible for New Zealand servicemen being in Vietnam. The sincerity of these voters should not be doubted. Admittedly the re cruiting figures printed in “The Press” substantiates your doubt that apparently it is easier to vote for a principle than fight for it. We should not be unkind, even in thought.—Yours, etc. CHARITY. March 9, 1967. Sir,—After the First World War the Massey-Ward .Coali:ion allowed the high price ’or butter to burden the reurned soldier with unecononic farms. In the fourth decide of this troubled century he slogan, “Guns before but;er,” allowed Hitler to land is in what Churchill desribed as the most unnecessary war in history. An interesting sidelight of this “safe for democracy” struggle is the present economic position of victor Britain and vanquished West Germany. The replacement of the ideological drive of Russian communism with the traditions', one of nationalism, the political conflict between Russia and China, and the French search for primacy in the removal of United States domination in the Western Alliance denude the Communist bogy of its camouflage. The stimulus to world armament trade of the Vietnam undeclared war, when words lose their meaning and belie intentions makes proportional representation the electoral bread and butter necessity of our democracy. —Yours, etc., WEST WIND. March 9, 1967.