‘Gallery’ Spent Too Long On N.Z. Nazi Party

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32308, 28 May 1970, Page 3

‘Gallery’ Spent Too Long On N.Z. Nazi Party

The twice-w eek 1 y “Gallery” programme, in which the N.Z.B.C. brings current affairs before the nation, is properly regarded by the public, and presumably by the corporation, as: among the- most important presentations- of the week. It was regrettable therefore to have more than half of Tuesday night’s “Gallery” given over to a discussion with Mr D. C. King-Ansell, of the New Zealand Nationalist Socialist Party, which has a membership, according to Mr King-Ansell, of about 220, "Gallery” surely does not need a straw man for Brian Edwards to knock down? Are there no more important problems than the activities of a so-called Nazi Party in New: Zealand?

Perhaps it could be argued that Hitler was once a nonentity, and that even a hint of a storm-trooper in Queen Street should be thoroughly explored and,discussed before he is joined by a second one, and a third. But it seemed (the height of absurdity to give the valuable national viewing ,time on a serious current affairs programme to the New Zealand Nazis, the date of whose accession to power Mr King-Ansell, very prudently, refused to guess. Mr Edwards had a difficult task, for his subject’s political platform was so astonishing as to be almost humorous. He should not have been there. But as he did come before the cameras, he should have been asked something of his background and his I qualifications to lead a political party, even the New Zealand Nazis. Perhaps "Gallery” has been influenced a little by the newspapers, which have: given minority groups considerable space in their columns, space sometimes, one fears, out of keeping with

the numbers of the groups, and their aims and objects. It would seem that if “Gallery” is so short of topics, it should not be difficult to gain a hearing on this programme. Little more may be needed than for someone to proclaim himself a political party, sign up half a dozen friends, and tell the nation what he thinks about the price of cabbages. * » * Reinember that lovely little daughter in the “Donna Reed Show” years ago? Shelley Fabares was everybody's sweetheart. And there she was on Tuesday night in “Lancer,” all sophisticated womanhood. It’s a pity screen people, too, have to grow up. The principal fare that evening was, however, the new drama scries, “Wojeck.” This Canadian production

:was typical of the much more professional acting, camera and script work of the more (recent Canadian films. But it was a harsh and seamy story which Wojeck, a city coroner, investigated. The duties and [functions of a Canadian coroner evidently go well (beyond simply the cause of death, and there is obviously ample scope for a series of powerful “Wojeck" stories. When Mr Trudeau was interviewed on television at Carlton University before coming to New Zealand he discussed Canada's racial problems. The Wojeck story, “The Last Man in The World,” if even only half accurate in its exposition of cruelty and indifference to the Indian in a Canadian i city, substantiated his remarks, very sadly.— (PANDORA.