Prisoners as pawns

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32637, 19 June 1971, Page 16

Prisoners as pawns

Sir,—On the subject of prisoners an American Army news-sheet writes: “Beside the humanitarian worth of a free man, what are they worth to the Pentagon?” We know that a Vietnamese is worth $35. The Army news-sheet I refer to comments that “official sources say it costs $85,970 to teach a man to fly, another $450,000 to become a combat-ready aviator, and $471,400 to fly the F-105”. On this basis it costs more to train 300 jet pilots than to train and equip 300,000 guerrillas. And, given the fact that some of the prisoners released have returned to training yet more pilots to devastate the land of Vietnam, is not a certain hestitation on the part of the Vietnamese justified?—Yours, etc., KEITH BUCHANAN. ' Wellington, June 17, 1971.

Churchill Fellowship Sir, —The following extract from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust conditions covering applications for awards reads: “The purpose of the trust is to make grants or awards or to provide fellowships to be awarded to New Zealand citizens to enable them to undertake some study, investigation, or activity in New Zealand o, overseas which will contribute to the advancement of their calling, trade, business, or profession, or will in some other way be to the benefit in general of New Zealand or will aid the maintenance of the British Commonwealth as a beneficial influence in world affairs.” Since Sir Keith Holyoake states that Mr Orme’s fellowship will not benefit his employers, the Public Trust Office, or therefore, his "calling, trade, business, or profession,” the Prime Minister must concede that it is New Zealand or the British Commonwealth which will benefit and clearly this is so. Otherwise Mr Orme would not qualify. New Zealand’s support is now needed. We elect the Government to lead, not to be led by constituents. Why will it not lead and support Mr Orme? —Yours, etc., CHRISTINE A. DAVIES. June 18. 1971.

Sir, —Sir Keith Holyoake’s reply to Mrs Tirikatene-Sulli-van is a shocker. First, there can be no question here about the value of a race relations study “to both the Crown and the employees.” No amount of evasiveness will dissuade New Zealanders from recognising that the Public Trust Office is clearly within the definition emb'acing “Government and its agencies.” Second, Sir Keith Holyoake must have had tongue in cheek when he

wrote the red herring about “responsibility for taypayer’s funds.” Third, and most disturbing, to refer Mr Orme tp the Maori Education Foundation for payment of his salary is to infer that responsibility for race relations is chiefly the concern of the Maori people, instead of all New Ze” landers. Mr Orme is a Maori. He is, more significantly, a New Zealand citizen. We all are responsible for this race relations stand to which Sir Keith Holyoake properly committed us in the United Nations General Assembly more than two years ago.—Yours, etc., STEPHEN BAZLEY. June 18, 1971.