National Party policy

Press, 4 January 1980, Page 10

National Party policy

Sir, —In criticising Mr Muldoon, T. R. Richards (December 29) is way off beam. He studied logic but commits the classic howler of hooking his propter hoc induction up to his non sequitur and then plugging into his false assumption thereby obtaining, syllogistically speaking, flutter on his bottom. Recent rising inflation comes from unprecedented extortionist Arab oil pricing and trade union militancy, and also once-for-all removal of senseless subsidies. Inflation could be eradicated by a violent credit squeeze but in consequence the industrial engine would seize solid. Firms would be drained of cash and bankrupted, multiplying worker unemployment overnight. Is that what T. R. Richards really wants? Because of high unemployment levels, all Western nations have tolerated high inflation figures, so as not to make unemployment worse. Gradualism is the key.— Yours, etc., J. LOWE. January I, 1980. Sir, — In a toast given at Norfolk. Virginia, in April, 1816, Stephen Decatur, * a United. States naval commander, included those now memorable words “. . . but our country, right or wrong.” In reply to Mr T. R. Richards’s factual statement (December 29), and to his reasonable query to Mr Frank Freeman (December 24) may I be permitted to misquote

Commander Decatur and say “but our leader, right or wrong?” — Yours, etc., L. A. H. BOGREN. December 30, 1979.