Letters to the Editor

Press, 29 July 1976, Page 16

Letters to the Editor

(1) Letters submitted for printing in this column must not exceed 150 words. They should be written in ink or preferably typed on one side of the paper. Ample space must be left in the margins and between lines for subediting marks. (2> Letters written over pen names or initials will not ordinarily be considered for publication. A legible signature and full postal address —not a P.O. Box numberare essential. (3) The correspondent must say whether the letter has been or is to be submitted elsewhere. The Editor does not undertake to acknowledge, hold, return or enter into correspondence on any letter not accepted for publication. Olympic Games Sir, —It is not the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Trudeau, who is a mule and an ass, it is, rather, the anonymous author of the “Economist" article, reprinted in “The Press,” whose obtuse inability to understand, that Mr Trudeau refused to allow the International Olympic Committee and the rump State of Taiwan to impose politics on the Olympic movement by foisting the Taiwanese on the Games as the “Republic of China,” that is mulish. And what could be more asinine than the example used by the “Economist” writer that “Joe Bloggs should be free to hire the Albert Hall to proclaim himself King of Rumania . . . provided that he doesn’t do so in a manner that is seditious or obscene?” Only a kook, to use the “Economist’s” own elegant expression. could use such an idiotic argument to uphold Taiwan’s and the T.O.C.’s efforts to thrust politics into the Olympic Games. — Yours, M. CREEL. July 27. 1976. [This correspondence is now closed.—Editor] Inter-island ferry

Sir.—G. H. Goldsbrough (July 24) advocates the retention, and upgrading, of the inter-island ferry so as to give a continuous daily service each way. The cost of running the ferry is high enough now with the present crew establishment. A continuous daily service must surely result in automatic demands for a greatly increased staffing establishment. We—the taxpayers—just cannot afford any fur-

ther increase in government subsidy to this service, highly desirable though it may be. It must be borne in mind, too, that only a small minority of taxpayers use the ferry service. If the Rangatira —or a substitute with passenger accommodation—is to be retained, the logical answer is for the users to be charged economic fares.—Yours, etc., HARVEY FOSS. July 25, 1976. Nuclear warships Sir, —The protest is not specifically against the presence of nuclear-powered warships in our ports, but also against New Zealand supporting, .in any way, the nuclear arms race. By welcoming nuclear-powered vessels which may be carrying nuclear arms, New Zealand is aiding actions which could well end in a horrific and devastating nuclear war. —Yours, etc.. A. M. and J. M. GREENAWAY. July 27, 1976. Funds to teach reading Sir, —I see that a group of people is staging a “Bride of the Year” contest and the charity to which this group will donate the profits is S.P.E.L.D. Since when has the teaching of reading left the province of the education authorities and become an object of charity? The inference that children cannot read because they are physically or emotionally disturbed, places the blame in the wrong sphere instead of where it fairly and squarely belongs —on the teaching method promulgated and compounded year after year. If the organisers are short of ideas on deserving charities, let them give to the Institute for the Blind and include the perpetrators of the system.—Yours, etc., V. H. ANDERSON. July 27, 1976. Union stoppages

Sir, —I take issue with Mr E. F. Inwood over his letter of July 27. First, I apologised to Mr McNulty for the bad-mannered minority, who would not allow him to speak without interjections. Mr Inwood refers to stoppages, but the meeting notice read: “Business: To

discuss amendments 9 and 10 of the Wage Regs., 1974.” Mr Inwood was the first to mention stoppages, and did so throughout the meeting, although I told him that the meeting had no power or intention to call a stoppage of any kind. Of the two motions Mr Inwood said were ignored, one was ruled out of order because it did not relate to the business in the meeting notice. The other I ruled a pious motion, which called for no action.— Yours, etc., T. TAYLOR, President, Canterbury Clerical Workers’ Union. July 27, 1976. British National Front Sir, — It is true that John Tyndall and Martyn Webster were both involved with National Socialist groups soon after leaving school, but only fleetingly. Both realised that this path did not truly represent the road to a revival of British nationalism. Consequently, both renounced their ties with this movement. The juxtaposition of placing a photograph of Mosley with a text referring to the leadership of the front is both inaccurate and misleading. At no time were Tyndall or Web-

ster members of the British Union of Fascists or the Imperial Fascist League, so why bring Mosley, the B.U.F. leader into the article? The thing that the front leadership is constantly criticised for — which the media never mention — is that the general membership considers the front to be too democratic under John Tyndall’s leadership. — Yours, etc., DAVID CRAWFORD July 26, 1976. New life Sir, — I sincerely wish to commend you for printing the article, “Jesus changing lives” in the July 20 edition. If the account is accurate, I believe such reports can only serve a good purpose in our society, even though such accounts may not be considered great news value. — Yours, FRANCIS H. ENGELBRECHT. July 23, 1976. Pen-friend wanted A 19-year-old Filipino, Miss Rose Espeleta, would like to have a male New Zealand pen-friend around the same age. Her address is 4C Gallares Street, Tagbilaran, Philippines.