Letters to the Editor

Press, 16 August 1978, Page 20

Letters to the Editor

(1) Letters submitted for print ing 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 a full postal address — not a P.O. Box number — are essential. 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. G.F.C.—Too long. See rules. J. —See rule on pen-names. K. R.V. and others.—We will try to get information for an article on your points. D.W.B.—We were amused but are not keen to list the names of these products in this column. G.S.—Your letter has been referred for comment and we have been informed that there will be a short delay in obtaining it. I University work Sir, — As a fourth-year science student I agree with much in the article by Ken Coates (“The Press,” August 15). Success at university involves the correct interpretation of lecturers’ thinking and to be seen to be doing the right things at the right times, culminating in a chronic headache during the regurgitation process. A preoccupation with marks is paramount throughout. Study in many sciences improves mental content no end while mental capacity is under-developed. For those interested in widening their knowledge and in education for its own sake, the meal ticket prerequisite of many passes with high marks is not possible. The system recognises such people at best as average students; at worst, as academic failures. Sweating it out for marks has left me with zillions of soon-to-be-forgotten facts and a meal ticket. How successful does society regard one for many other more important non-academic achievements? — Yours, etc., C. A. FLANAGAN. August 15, 1978. Labour's tax policies Sir, - Poorer taxpayers a little better off, but the moderately wealthy would be wealthier. That is the assessment of "The Press” columnist, Cedric Mentiplay of Labour’s tax proposals. Like Mr Muldoon, Mr Mentiplay seems unable to read simple tax tables. Under Labour’s scheme, a married man with a non-earning wife and two teen-age children, earning $lOO a week, would pay no tax at all (under National, from October. $14.28). On $l4O, under Labour, he would pay $12.25 a week (under National, $29.48). On $l9O a week, he would pay $33.72 (under National, $48.48). On $290 a week, he would pay $84.75 (under National, $96.15). That obviously makes the poorer taxpayer much better off under Labour, and the moderately wealthy a little better off — the exact reverse of Mr Mentiplay’s inaccurate and misleading assessment. —Yours, etc., ANN HERCUS. August 15. 1978. (As a general statement about the Labour tax tables, Mr Mentiplay’s assessment seems to be borne out by the figures, though much depends on how “poor” and “moderately wealthy” are defined. He did not say that the moderately wealthy would be “much” better off. — Editor.]

Visit by U.S. ship Sir, — The visit of the Horne is a step presumably in the right direction — “rest and recreation” by conventional vessel. However, we would respectfully point out that the Horne is nuclear capable, although there is little information as to when and how often the vessel is nuclear armed. We believe that it would be better for our security if our Government was more careful in the invitations it issues and avoided all nuclear capability. At the Special Session on Disarmament, nuclear powers were pressed to outline- the negative securities they offered. New Zealand cannot take advantage of this unless we can say that we do not, and will not, harbour nuclear weapons on land or sea. For our security and that of the world, it is essential that the Government explores the possibility of negative security agreements with all nucleapowers before we consider hosting nuclear capable warships of any nation. — Yours, etc., MIA TAY, Secretary, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. August 14, 1978. Use of forests Sir, — Referring to the article, “Alarming loss of world's forests” ("The Press,” August 12) it seems incredible that New Zealand pays scant regard to the wealthy markets which will be open to us when trees planted now will mature. We have nearly 50,000 unemployed and' an advanced labour intensive low cost tree planting technoloay available. Planting future Kaiangaroas is more worth while than getting roadsides grubbed. The energv-produc-ing potential of pine forests gives an extra incentive for us to accelerate our efforts in this field. We are spending SIOOM a year on unemployment .benefits. Why does not this country show a bit of vision and courage and direct this wasteful investment into future wealth? —Yours, etc., D. S. CAIRNS, Greymouth. August 12, 1978. Natural family planning Sir, — I am sorry the indiscreet lioness at Orana Park, who “defied her family planning programme,” was not featured on your main page instead of in your “Reporter’s Diary.” I am equally sorry she cannot speak. Perhaps she might convince the statistic-ridden correspondents, that her near-buman foible did not permit her to become completely computought,” we “have to,” but should,” “we must,” “we ought,” we ‘have to,” but we never will. Ho-hum to all of us. — Yours, etc., LORNA ANKER. August 15, 1978. \

Sir, — R. P. Dalziel’s criticism of me (August 14) was a not very subtle twist of my words. It is usual to establish a base for argument. This I did in "assuming” his premise. I did not debate it. We both generalised. I should have said “many women’’ instead of "women.” However, his contradictory statement, "peaks of sexual arousal and activity at virtually every time during the menstrual cycle” surely . proves my "main thesis. To abstain from intercourse during the period of a woman’s fertility may mean that husband denies

wife at a time of her greatest desire. Mr Dalziel shows it is no great sacrifice for the man (who does not “peak”) but it could be considerable for the particular woman. Some women couid be always denied satisfaction. These could also be in the annual three in 100 who conceive. They would not belong in Mr Dalziel’s freedom class. — Yours, etc., B. ROBERTS. August 15, 1978. Natural family planning Sir, — The vehemence of the attack in your correspondence column on natural family planning using ovulation detection as outlined by Averill Bathurst surprises me. What is so threatening about a method of family planning — as opposed to contraception — which requires the co-operation of both partners in a relationship? Surely those of us who do not wish to fill our bodies with drugs or subject ourselves to the discomforts of mechanical devices, or who have moral jojections to contraception,, have the right to choose to use knowledge of our body rnythms to control the size and spacing of our families. — Ytfurs, etc., ANNE M. HUNTER. August 14, 1978. Farmworkers and wage order Sir, — In reply to John A. H. Krammer (August 12), 1 would like first to point out to him that the New Zealand Farm Workers’ Association has no intention of becoming a union. Therefore, we have no intentions of becoming affiliated to the Federation of Labour. Second, the Farm Workers’ Association has not demanded that the 7 per cent general wage order be paid by farmers for the simple reason that the Prime Minister in his wisdom, has decided to leave it up to each individual employer to pay, at his or her discretion. — Yours, etc.. JOHN LISTER, Secretary, Mid-Canterbury Farm Workers’ Association, August 14. 1978. Boosting the economy Sir, — 1 question the contention of your editorial (August 12) in that a boosted domestic economy is irrelevant or wishful thinking in relation to our general economic position. I note you quote the increased price of oil between 19731974 and then you add that New Zealand cannot pay for all its imports by its traditional exports. What is so essentially wrong with cutting out the importation of luxury cars, cosmetics, expensive but non-essential porcelain and glassware, exotic foodstuffs and like trivialities? Let us stick to the priorities of oil, steel, electric power equipment and, in the meantime, boost the domestic economy .for all it is worth to create jobs for New Zealanders to produce goods for New Zealanders and thereby put more economic power into the hands of those who create the real wealth of any country, the wage earner. Yours, etc., ' ARTHUR MAY. Rangiora August 12, 1978.

[Luxury items amount to a verv small proportion of New Zealand’s imports. Mr May mentions porcelain and glassware. The July. 1978,

Monthly Abstract of Statistics classifies these and other items as amounting to 2.4 per cent of the total value of imports. The main item in this classification is ball and roller bearings; hessian fabric and miscella eous metal manufactures are also included in that 2.4 per cent. Pharmaceutical products are included with books, magazines, newspapers, journals, tea, fruit, and canned fish — all of which amount to 13 per cent of the total value of imports. Heavy restrictions on imports would quickly lead to industries lacking raw materials, creating a fall in production and further unemployment.— Editor.] West Coast forests Sir, — J. Olsen’s letter (August 14) is just another attack oh the management of the forests by the Forest Service. It contains nothing new or constructive. It is obviously an attempt to play on people’s emotions and point the finger at the Government department still at the top of the firing order, the Forest Service. Is it not about time some really constructive thinking was put forward? How ludicrous to suggest the planting of a new beech forest on “wasteland” when there are huge areas of cutover on the Coast with new generations of podocarps and beech already on the way. I certainly do not support clearfelling but ask any forest ecologist where to look for maximum regeneration of rimu. — Yours, et GLENN H. STEWART. August 14, 1978. National’s policies Sir, — T. J. Skinner does not appear to understand that the Gleneagles Agreement imposes an obligation actively to discourage sport with South Africans. This is a reversal of National’s 1975 promise, and makes nonsense of the Government’s claim that it has carried out its 1975 manifesto. Also, T. J. Skinner seems proud of a current balance of payments deficit of SSI2M. The figure given for the year ending at some unspecified time during 1975 is misleading, but if for the year ending also in May then it is hundreds of millions too high. Moreoever, the present Government has had the benefit of record prices overseas and an excessively suppressed economy. but still fails to reduce the deficit to the extent we could reasonably expect. This excessive deficit together with continuing doublefigure inflation persists even after nearly three years of economic stagnation and massive growing unemployment. — Yours, etc., D. .1. O’ROURKE. August 14, 1978. Community service grants Sir, — I understand the C .lv Council is considering a grant to the organisation S.O.S. Surely, it is a responsible council which would financially assist an organisation whose sole object is to aid women to reach a country where laws reflect the wishes of the people. As a ratepayer, I heartily endorse the us of any portion of my rates for this purpose. One does not grudge grants to charitable organisations and there is great charity in giving a woman the freedom to choose whether she wishes to continue her pregnancy or not. The council can certainly justify a grant to 5.0.5. whose work is incalculable in preventing the birth of mors unwanted

children into our society. The tragedy is that this freedom cannot yet be found in New Zealand; New Zealand women have to continue the farce of pretending they are mad in order to get an abortion in their own country. — Yours, etc., PAT WILKINSON (Mrs). August 15, 1978. Merivale Mall ■ Sir, — Your editorial (August 7) omitted to mention consequent traffic problems generated in Merivale by development on the scale of the proposed mall. Merivale is a residential area laid out, and built at the turn of the century. It is not merely some lucky chance that the homes and streets have survived until now. The houses work for people (we have lived in our 78-year-old home for 18 years), and the narrow streets safely and adequately cater for neighbourhood residential traffic. Merivale has six schools and countless old people’s homes and street widening cannot be conceded to feed artificially generated traffic from an unwanted mall. Elmwood School (directly affected by street widening and traffic) Ferndale. Heaton I-termediate, Selwyn House, Rangi-Ruru, St Margaret’s, Ackland Ho use and St Andrew’s must act quickly to protect children in their charge from dangers of the increased traffic on Papanui Road and through the Merivale streets. — Yours, KAYE STOKES. MICHAEL STOKES. August 13, 1978. South Africa and sport Sir, H. Williams (August 11) misrepresents the position of the New Zealand anti-apartheid movement. Apartheid is the political programme of the South African Government, whereas “South Africa” is the state. Consequently, accusing H.A.R.T. of being “antiSouth Africa” is merely identifying the interests of the South African Government with the South African state. The same is true with Trevor Richards being labelled as a traitor here. The New Zealand Government and the South African Government are alike in many ways. H. Williams is welcome to go to South Africa, but at the same time should be aware that South African sport is organised on a racial basis contrary to sporting principles, and that the minority regime makes political capita, out of contacts, suggesting that New Zealanders. in particular, are not really opposed to apartheid. I should also point out that every action has a reaction. — Yours, etc., GERALD DAVIDSON. August 12, 1978. Courses for unemployed Sir, —I am tired of the disappointing attempts made to combat the “layabouts” in our society — those who are content to accept unemployment benefits and who are deliberately enjoying themselves at the expense of other taxpayers. I realise many are suffering hardships and that jobs are fewer, but the welfare system in New Zealand must be checked and tightened not (to gain more votes) made more attractive to those who would avoid working. I suggest that some of this money, apparently so liberally available, should be

used to send applicants for benefits to any of the numerous courses which give guidance in initiative, motivation and positive help. These will broaden the mind and imagination to let thousands realise the gifts and talents which do exist in young and old alike. I would suggest courses such as the Cobham Outward Bound School or Dale Carnegie, to think of only two. These would be an investment to man and country. — Yours, ROBT. J. FROST. August 14, 1978. Language of worship Sir, — Mrs Flanagan (August 10) says "the Creator does not change.” She, reasons from that that the language of worship should not change, and wants Cranmer’s language of the sixteenth century’ to continue to be used in the twentieth. But if that reasoning were valid Cranmer in his day would not have changed from the centuries-old Latin. Archbishop Cranmer and his fellow Reformers who followed what was called the “New Learning,” were dedicated to the principle that worship should be for the common people in common language. He used the best normal language of his day. Now, four centuries later, some of that language is archaic. “Vouchsafe,” “dissemble,” “unfeignedly,” and “shawms” are words that have gone from normal use. Other words have quite changed their meaning. “Quick” meant “alive” not "fast,” “won’t” meant "willing,” not “will not,” "ghost” meant “spirit,” not “spooky,” “trespass” meant "sin,” not “going on forbidden land,” and these are only a few. — Yours, etc., CANON B. J. MACHELL. Culverden. August 14, 1978. Rod Dixon's run Sir, — Congratulations to all New Zealanders — first, second and third — to the boy who was honest, the boys who fell and all others who played a wonderful part to make every New Zealander proud. But the greatest con gratulation goes to Rod Dixon for running in the 5000 metres. I am sure in the hearts of all who watched this race he won a gold medal, a new gold medal for simply being a great sport. — Yours, etc., COLLEEN MAYNE. Ashburton. August 13. 1978.