The Transkei

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34000, 14 November 1975, Page 12

The Transkei

Sir,—CORSO has been criticised in these columns as “an extreme Left-wing political machine.” If being concerned about poverty and oppression in the world, and searching for ways to remove the causes is “Left-wing” then maybe CORSO must accept the title. However, concern about poverty is not the province of any one political point of view. This is reflected by the people who work within CORSO. Anyone can work for CORSO, and will find an avenue to suit their interests and approach to remove world poverty. It could be, of course, that the vested interests of the growth economy of the affluent West feel challenged by such things as sharing the world’s resources with all people, and bringing about social change so all men can achieve their full dignity as humans. These goals are not “Left-wing.” Yours etc., — J. E. FERGUSSON, Chairman, CORSO Committee, Christchurch. November 13, 1975.

Sir, —I am surprised that “The Press” should print a letter from Lieutenant-Col-onel Elderton which contains such unfair inaccuracies about CORSO. Far from being “an extreme Left-wing political machine,” CORSO draws support from all sections of Christchurch. CORSO is not political, but is concerned with overseas aid, relief, and investigating the causes of underdevelopment. It is worth recording the calibre of the people who lead CORSO in Christchurch. These include the regional chairman, Mr Gordon Seatter, headmaster of Heaton Street Intermediate School and an elder of the Presbyterian Church; the Christchurch chairman, Dr Jack Fergusson, reader in chemistry at the University and a Methodist

lay preacher; the co-ordina-tor of the voluntary workers, Miss Marjorie Ockenden, a retired teacher and secretary of the United Nations Association; and the fund-raising chairman, Mr Claude Sisson, a chemist and past chairman of Christchurch Round Table No. 4. These people are not extreme Left-wingers. Yours etc., —

RICHARD COTTRELL, Chairman, Friends of CORSO. November 12, 1975.