Hangings In Rhodesia

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31628, 14 March 1968, Page 12

Hangings In Rhodesia

Sir, —I would suggest that until such time as you stop refusing to print replies to editorial, in which you make personal attacks, presumably on the grounds that it would ridicule your article—your editorial on December 9, 1967, refers. Also until such time as you print my articles in full, and not delete factual and important statements which would help expose the fallacy of your views, you cease to talk about censorship in Rhodesia, etc. The censorship in the Rhodesian newspapers is because being foreign owned, and under outside influences, they try everything they can to undermine the Rhodesian Government. Your form of censorship is inexcusable, in that it denies to New Zealanders the true facts on Rhodesia. New Zealanders are not as yet under serious subversive pressure. The Rhodesians, both black and white, are fighting for their survival.—Yours, etc., A. C. R. ELDERTON. March 12, 1968.

Sir, —In view of your apparent enthusiasm for a free and uncensored press, it would be interesting to know why you deleted the following statement from an article published in your paper this morning submitted by our president, Lieutenant- Colonel A. C. R. Elderton. The deleted paragraph reads as follows: “As a matter of interest, Nkomo stood for election in 1953, in the first Rhodesian Federal Election, but was soundly beaten by another African, a Mr M. Hove. Nkomo’x fellow Africans have consistently refused to have anything to do with him, which is why he has resorted to i-timidation to try and obtain a following.” This statement occurred at the end of paragraph 3. The New Zealand public has been led to believe, by pro-premature-African-rule news media, that Nkomo is a national hero, supported by the entire black population of Rhodesia. Surely your publication of the twice censored article on page 7 this morning is a blatant example of the pot calling the kettle black.—Yours, etc., J. A. D. ANDERSON, Hon. Sec.. Aid Rhodesia Movement (N.Z.). March 13, 1968.

Sir, —I find your editorial today somewhat hypocritical, as you refused to print a reply by Colonel Elderton to one of your previous editorials, presumably because it made that editorial look foolish. Now you print Colonel Elderton’s article under half the right heading, and, on your own admission, less extracts you found inconvenient. You carefully make no mention of the recent action and comments of the Chief Justice of Rhodesia, whereas, before, he was your blue-eyed boy. This can only be because he cannot go along any more with the actions of the Wilson Government. Is it possible that your criticism of Colonel Elderton’s article—anything less mischievous I have never read—is because he has clearly shown the justice of Rhodesia’s cause, and that, thanks to the firm actions of the Rhodesian Government, organised murder in that country is no longer profitable?—Yours, etc., A. N. CLIFFORD. March 13, 1968.