Letters to the Editor

Press, 18 July 1979, Page 20

Letters to the Editor

(1) betters submitted tor print# tag 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 oe left in the margins and between tines for subediting marks (21 Letters written over pen names or initials will not ordinarily be considered tor publication A legible signature and a 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. (4) Address letters to the Editor, to “The Press.” P.O Box 1005 Christchurch D.C.S.—You are only asking the same question to which we could only get the same answer. T.S.S.—We do not believe your allegation is true of the people mentioned so far in our columns. If it is not your letter might be actionable. Electricity price Sir, — Without a doubt the .-rice of electricity is determining the quality of life in many homes today. I know of solo parent families hopelessly in debt, with rent and power payments long overdue; of families who use “hotties” instead of heaters; of families where only one single-bar radiator is used, and young and old cram into a single room; of old people who stay in bed for warmth. Yet now we hear that since power charges rose, the drop in demand is such that there is surplus generating capacity, and lake waters may have to be spilled. And what for? The national accounts are not being balanced, and people are suffering. The welfare and dignity of New Zealanders appears to have lowest priority in Government planning. What can we do to obtain lower power charges for South Island domestic users? — Yours, etc. (Mrs) E. J. STEINCAMP. July 17, 1979. Electricity surplus Sir, — Why is it that with a surplus of electricity (“The Press,” July 16) we must continue on economic grounds to save electricity? Common sense, not political book-balancing, should mean that we reduce power charges, electrify the railways, promote electric trolley buses, promote the electric car, and encourage oilburning households to change to electricity. We are at the mercy of the oil-pro-ducing countries; let us insulate ourselves, at least in the electricity field, now that we have this “embarrassing surplus.” Positive action from the Government, and that does not mean only the ruling party, is essential so that the welfare of Mr and Mrs John Citizen comes before the balancing of the books, and artificial economic stringency. — Yours, JACK D. MEECHIN. July 16, 1979. Vietnamese refugees Sir, — I have heard and read many exclamations of horror, about “Holocaust.” Some people say that it should be a reminder to us never to let such a thing happen again. Yet is not that what is happening in Vietnam? Is it really any worse sending thousands of Jews to the gas chambers, than sending thousands of Vietnamese out to sea? Of course, some people will argue that they go voluntarily, even pay their way, but these people seem blind to the circumstances which made it more tolerable to risk perishing at sea, than to live under Communist rule. Of course, there would be difficulties, if we let more refugees in, but we should not be so selfish as to consider the lowering of our high standard of living as one of them. Even the unemployment problem should not be an excuse. At least our unemployed do not starve or drown. — Yours, etc. (Mrs) CAROLINE SLEIGH, Waimate. July 14, 1979.

Vietnamese refugees Sir, —Several letters to the editor have stated that the New Zealand Government should take in many more refugees. However, the job of the Government is done once the decision is made. It is for us as individuals or groups, to do the practical job of caring for our fellow man, rather than leaving him to rot, or drown. But how do we go about it? Could someone concerned with the particulars of immigration, housing, language, etc, please explain the finer points. For instance, how far financially is a sponsor committed; what happens if the refugee gets sick or cannot find a job? Many of us might find being a sponsor or, in ither words, extending a helping hand to another human being, quite within our capabilities. — Yours, etc., S. VAVASOUR, Blenheim.

Juiy 4, 1979. [The Rev. Angus H. MacLeod, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, replies: “Sponsorships for refugees are arranged through the InterChurch Commission on Immigration and Refugee Resettlement (ICCI). This is a joint agency of the National Council of Churches, the Roman Catholic Church and the Jewish Welfare Agency. Details of what is required of sponsors and answers to your correspondent’s questions can be obtained by writing to ICCI, P.O. Box 6133, Te Aro, Wellington.”]

Sir, — The inspired propaganda campaign against Vietnam by the A.S.E.A.N. countries exploiting the refugee question, (Stuart McMillan’s article, “Attitudes to Vietnam” “The Press,” July 14) arises, clearly, from the inability of A.S.E.A.N. members to reconcile themselves to IndoChina’s socialism, and has little to do with compassion for the refugees. The danger of the A.S.E.A.N. members’ attitude towards Vietnam, Kampuchea, and Laos, is that it plays into the hands of the Chinese leadership’s vaulting ambition to exercise Chinese hegemony over Asia, to which the determined independence of the Indo-Chinese states is a frustrating obstacle. Lee Kuan Yew emerges as a Chinese agent. The ethnic Chinese throughout SouthEast Asia are performing the same role there that the German minorities in Central and Eastern Europe played in Hitler’s aggressive plans prior to World War 11. The Chinese February invasion of Vietnam was but the first step in China’s grand design. — Yours, etc., M. CREEL. July 16, 1979. New Zealand beers Sir, —Your recent article on the revival of small local breweries in Britain prompts me to express my concern at the absence of such here. When buying draught beer in Christchurch two brands with two choices are available, draught or lager. I can detect only the slightest difference in taste between the four. Various labels are affixed to bottles presumably to define colour, as they ail have a similar mediocre taste except for Tennants Strong Ale. Ten years ago I began home-brewing to alleviate the boredom of New Zealand beers but with the release of Guinness on the New Zealand market my own brewing activities became superfluous. Now I find I must return to home-brewing to obtain a palatable drop, as Guinness is no longer available and Tennants Strong Ale is stocked by so few bottle stores or taverns. Have the commercial brewers an answer? —Yours, etc., STEPHEN BETTS. July 4, 1979.

[Mr D. J. Fitzgerald, public relations manager for Lion Breweries, Ltd, replies: “There are as many opinions as to the quality of beer in New Zealand as there are beers, and all beer fanciers in this country are fortunate that the breweries produce to such high standards. New Zealand brewers have amassed numerous trophies

and awards won in fierce international competition, but no amount of success can persuade some beer drinkers that their own product is not superior to that made commercially, or that the beers of yesteryear were real beers and far better than today's product, no matter that they have forgotten the lemonade that had to be added to many earlier brews to make them palatable.”] Petrol rationing scheme Sir, — We are concerned that the petrol rationing scheme being considered by the Government will not be applied fairly. We consider that each person over the age of 15 should have equal rations, and that coupons should not go only to people who own a car. We all have equal claims to our country’s resources, and have contributions to make. Let us aim not at more coupons for bigger cars, but at a more just distribution. — Yours, etc., HELEN CHAMBERS, ELODY RATHGEN, CHIGUSA STEVENS, LIVIA ZULAUF-WITTMAN. July 10, 1979. i Crossing against lights Sir, — I am a 46-year-old professional man who qualifies as one of D. Marshall’s ‘‘illiterate young adults” who cross intersections against the “wait” sign. To me it smacks of the "1984 syndrome” when I see a number of people waiting sheepishly for big brother to say "cross” when there is no traffic in sight. Even worse is when everyone thinks someone else has pressed the button and the thing never does say “cross.” 1 am aware that there are legalities involved and I am very much in favour of safety aids for motorists and pedestrians, but the “black box” should not be allowed to usurp the rational human intellect. Safety is the criterion, not obedience. — Yours, etc., L. J. TAYLOR. July 16, 1979. Fluoridation Sir, — I am delighted to read (July 17) that we are not, after all, to have fluoridation of our Christchurch water supply thrust upon us. May I suggest that some of the space that has been given to the matter be now devoted to making more widely known the sources of fluoride contained in everyday foods, as a guide to parents and others who may be feeling anxious? A daily breakfast dish of porridge made from coarsely ground oatmeal, or one of muesli made from whole grain mixed cereals should provide enough fluoride in its natural state to promote dental health without the danger of chemical imbalance from taking it in tablet form. — Yours, etc., C. J. BUCHAN* July 17, 1979. Starvation in South Africa Sir, — This last 10 days we have been bombarded with an “Economist” article, two editorials, and about 2| pages of articles in “The Press” outlining the present maltreatment of Vietnamese by the “fanatics of Hanoi.” Yet the deliberate starvation unto death of 2 million black South Africans by the “fanatics of Pretoria” receives merely a few column inches. Appreciating your problem of lack of space to deal fairly with present genocides, would I be cynical if I asked whether the reason behind the lack of A.N.Z.U.S. support for the black South Africans is that, without South African chromium and diamonds, our steel and. engineering industries would collapse in a few months? — Yours, etc., R. H. FINDLAY. July 14, 1979. Stolen motor-cycle Sir, — While I understand Julian Doughty’s sorrow about the loss of his motorcycle (“The Press,” July 16) I do feel he took a foolish

risk leaving it parked where he did for as long as he did. Motor-cycle theft is worldwide, and anyone with a class machine should take precautions. 1 think it was on an Australian T-shirt I first saw the caption “I’d rather push my Harley than ride a Ricie” so even a dry tank can be overcome. Anyhow, if this bike is as explosive as we are told, how much use is a nitro-burning dragster for touring New Zealand? — Yours, etc., R. A. KNIGHT. July 16, 1979. Sir, — I hope that Julian Doughty (“The Press,” July 16) soon finds his $lO,OOO motor-cyclc that can be heard two miles away. I also hope that the Ministry of Transport then soon finds Julian Doughty. —- Yours, etc. STEVE BRYANT. July 16, 1979. Trips to Westport Sir, —I suggest the following as an answer to requests from people in Westport for a rail passenger service. I propose that the railways transfer one of the Al class passenger car-guards vans to either Stillwater or Greymouth and use it in conjunction with the daily through freight trains to and- from Westport, thus providing Westport with a daily return passenger service with, if possible, connection with one of the return passenger services from Christchurch. The passenger car-van would replace the guards van. However, the car-van may need a toilet fitted to facilitate its use on this run. I think that if the railways are willing to try this, and as long as the mixed train connects with a Christchurch return passenger service, it could become a viable service as long as it was patronised by those it served. ■—Yours, etc., S. DOW, Waipara. July 8, 1979.

[Mr M. C. Hudson, District Traffic Manager of Railways, replies: “A journey between Westport and Christchurch as suggested by the writer would take approximately 12 hours and because of the length of travelling time involved, it is considered that such a service would be impracticable. If the writer cares to contact me I will be pleased to discuss the matter more fully.”] Post-mortems on rugby test Sir, —. May I remind rugby enthusiasts that postmortems are held in the mortuary not on TV, radio, etc., for ever and a day. — Yours, etc., JANET M. WOOD. July 15, 1979. Skylab’s fall Sir, — In your editorial (July 13) you state of Skylab, ‘‘that experiments cannot be justified which put the whole world at risk.” Is it not rather ludicrous that so much concern should be shown around the world on

the possible damage by this rather errant piece of scientific equipment? Meanwhile tha big Powers go on stockpiling weapons which can assuredly blot out the world’s population several times — not accidentally either. The world is permanently “at risk” while this continues. — Yours, JILL WILCOX. July 13, 1979. Electric cars Sir, — Andrea Smith asks (July 11) how does one defend Mr Birch on his lack of support for Mr Byers’s research on electric cars? The Government’s policy, and rightly so, supports private enterprise. Development of the electric vehicle is continuing in Auckland at present by a private company and there is every possibility that the first vehicle will be available on the marke . by mid to end of August this year. Why should taxpayers’ money be used if there is willingness in the private sector to research and develop the electric vehicle, or for that matter any other product. I trust this will enable Andrea Smith to excuse Mr Birch for his lack of support but not necessarily lack of interest in an electric vehicle. — Yours, C. McNICHOLL. July 11, 1979. Advertising for spending Sir, — I am disgusted with the TV advertising of the National Bank’s Visa Card, virtually encouraging people to be more extravagant. At a time when the Government is trying to persuade us to save more, it is just an extension of the iniquitous hire-purchase system. Much the same also applies to the full-page advertisement of Air New Zealand — more encouragement to spend. I wonder what a cross-section of their clients would be? I would expect the majority to be more or less on pleasure trips overseas or in New Zealand. One wonders if the huge consumption of fuel would not

be better used in ground transport. — Yours, etc., R. C. JONES. Oxford. July 13, 1979. Zimbabwe Rhodesia Sir, — President Carter’s foreign policy leaves a lot to be desired and his attitude towards a fair and just settlement of the Zimbabwe Rhodesian issue should not influence the British Government which must sooner or later lift sanctions against this newly formed Commonwealth State. In every sphere of Communist subversive activities President Carter prefers to appease the enemy by submitting to its demands and Zimbabwe Rhodesia is a case in point where this short-sighted leader still continues to support the Soviet-sponsored, black African terrorists for the “take-over” of this highly strategic Southern African State, thus creating another Uganda with all the in-fighting involved for personal black leadership. President Carter’s request that the white minority administrators be replaced by blacks is not only unreasonable but racist in the extreme, most other newly independent African States such as Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania have their share of white administrators thus creating a well-balanced government body. — Yours, etc., L. WESTNEY. July 16, 1979. Phones for disabled Sir, — I was very encouraged to read your article about “Phones for disabled” (“The Press,” July 17), although I, like many more senior citizens, I presume, find the message rather cryptic. I hope that the Health Department will bear in mind that, not a few of these disabled people will probably be deaf, like myself, and the cost of having a telephone amplified is exorbitant for a pensioner. After all, what is the use of even a push-button telephone if a person cannot hear on it? — Yours, etc., (Mrs) ETHEL SOTHERAN. July 17, 1979.