Vietnamese Orphans

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31764, 22 August 1968, Page 14

Vietnamese Orphans

Sir,—No doubt the National Council of Churches has had numerous inquiries about adopting Vietnamese orphans. Like the N.C.C., these people want an exhibit—a false showing of how good they are. Their efforts would be more gainfully effective if directed to solving the illegitimacy problem here in New Zealand. But, of course, there is no glamour or glory In that line. Give the Vietnamese assistance to rehabilitate their own orphans in the environment of their own country and people, and let those do-gooding, social-status-seeking hypocrites try their hand at honest goodness at home here in New Zealand. Yours, etc., K. F. G. CHASE. Paparua, August 20, 1968.

Sir,—The settlement of Vietnamese children in our midst by the National Council of Churches is not in the ultimate interests of our own Maori-pakeha race. This is quite apart from the fact that the needs of so many of our young Maori children have been ignored. The fosterparents of these no doubt attractive small Vietnamese children will eventually realise that, as the children become older, there are fundamental differences in ways of thought and reaction in these people in spite of an outward acquisition of our own culture. Later on the truth will be brought home to them of the difficulties of intermarriage between widely disparate racial stocks and the tragic effect, as often as not, on the offspring.—Yours, etc., VULCAN. August 21, 1968.