Backing N.Z.

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31583, 22 January 1968, Page 10

Backing N.Z.

Sir, —The U.S.A, had no option but to remove their domestic gold cover. Should not New Zealand take this as a signal to start acting in her own self-interest? As America has short-term external liabilities totalling $30,000m plus the crucial drain of global military commitments of which Vietnam alone will cost another $30,000m this year, their present perplexity of juggling $12,000m gold reserves against $29,000m U.S. currency held abroad may soon seem small indeed. The U.S.A, cannot afford the cost of military adventures and if she continues her fate may be precisely what Chinese Government economists jubilantly predict. At present the fate of New Zealand depends upon the possibility of U.S.A.’s extricating herself: but it would be saner for New Zealand to build a policy of independence from foreign financial influence and its political repercussions. We could achieve this by a determined stand and übiquitous bilateral trade.-r Yours, etc., BRAEMAR ANDERSON. January 21,1968.

Sir, —Perhaps it was A. B. Cedarian who stated the saying. “No one does a full day’s work any more. No one else, that is.” —Yours, etc., SOPHOCLES. January 21, 1968.

Sir, —After reading Varian J. Wilson’s history lecture on the 40-hour week I am inclined to agree with Lord Northcliffe’s famous remark.

“history is bunk.” If government clerical workers’ pay is today based on a 38-hour week, why must they work for 40 hours before they are paid overtime? It seems that by knocking off at 4.35 they get an equivalent of 2 hours 5 minutes leave with pay each week. Suggesting they donate some of it back to the taxpayer is to Varian J. Wilson’s mind "indecent haste to slander the New Zealand workers.” To my mind it was indecent of union officials to dismiss this month two shop stewards for supporting “Back Britain" donations, and decent of the factory workers concerned to re-elect them both immediately in defiance. When our union officials have finished scratching each other’s backs in 1968, will ours have any bone left on which to carry them further?— Yours, etc., A. B. CEDARIAN. January 20, 1968.