Law and order

Press, 5 August 1981, Page 20

Law and order

Sir.—The Prime Minister in his leadership address said he might go to the country on the issue of “law and order." For it to be an issue, we must have ••for" and “against.” It is sheer Muldoon arrogance to suggest that, of the three parties, National is the only one in favour of law and order. Michael Connolly, a former Minister of Police and now shadow Minister of Police, has stated the Labour view. I am sure Social Credit is not against law and order. The other point is this triple A rating. The low value of the New Zealand dollar does not seem to bear this out. Travellers who change their New Zealand money into Fijian or Australian currency know what they get in return. Tender a Fijian boy a New Zealand coin and his comment, “No good. New Zealand.” There seems to be an inconsistency here.— Yours, etc..

T. R. RICHARDS. August 3, 1981.

Sir,—Anyone who saw Sunday night’s New Zealand feature film, “Sleeping Dogs,’ would appreciate the remarkable similarities with the present political situation. In the film (made in 1977) protesters bearing placards with slogans such as "Freedom from Racism” are batoned by police in riot gear, while a grim-faced

Prime Minister appears on television and appeals for a mandate on an issue of law and order. Sir, in the event of a “snap” election on this “law and order” excuse, ' and the return of the National Govern ment, the inevitable result must be a sort of police state with the suppression of all undesirable (read “Left-wing") elements. The so-called “violent" demonstrators (who seem, incidentally, to be the only party to get hurt) are now being used as a scapegoat by the Prime Minister in a calculated ploy to get re-elected. It will certainly say something to me about New Zealanders if it works.—Yours, etc.. N. YATES. Ashburton, August 3, 1981.