The Falklands

Press, 3 June 1982, Page 16

The Falklands

Sir,-So, New Zealand has started providing England with assistance again in its war games. That makes one thing clear, that the politicians who made the decision are willing to pay a high price for their personal patriotism. At least this has cured my naivety; I used to think that the politician’s noble and highest concern was her/his next election. Now an improved aim is revealed, which consists of tending to all things .bar the problems existing here such as poverty. Many excuses and explanations exist to counter what I have said, but none are worth anything while they are used to pacify the masses. One final point, fam not attacking the Government or its system, I am attacking every person in power who operates according to personal/selfish interests.— Yours, etc., K. G. SPACEMAN. May 29, 1982. Sir.—And to others to whom this idea may find a supportive view: The bleakness; and exposure as depicted in .what I see of the Falkland Islands in the news today, gives us ah opportunity when peace again settles down for a minority of. our people seeking their own inde- . pendent way of life. This would be to give them immediate assistance in the planting oi shelter belts and - otherwise suitable trees for both shelter, timber and firewood. Think how. well our New Zealand phormium would-do down there as well as our southern manuka and a snow-grass, particularly' the red tussock. Should not larch and the everi ranging lodge pole pine as well as the versatile radiata grow there to. give shelter and fire--wood. This could all be done through our Forestry Department', and a competent survey done first. No doubt we will have troops stationed there for .several years and the planting, fencing and care could be a

welcome diversion. Not a “think big campaign" but a welcome and practical gesture. — Yours, etc.. A. W. ERICSON. May 27, 1982.

Sir,—Sandra Legge (May 31) accuses a correspondent of “invective." My dictionary gives: invective — noun, a. violent verbal attack, insults, curses, etc. One feels appalled by 18letter words but no less so by six jargoned sentences, averaging 25 words each. In this she damns “half the world's scientists” with nothing less than their imagined language. Such generalisations were once the product of small minds. Allow me to remind her of a larger one. B. Russell said:“Equations do not explode.” It is morally debatable but at least he distinguished between science and men. People’s fears and crises have too easily found the straight line of jargon. Reacting to it, hundreds- of thousands around the world create a nuclear arms debate on the search for sense and understanding. One sees her dilemma, and something else: match fire with fire- It is so futile. Here’s to simple directness—Yours. etc., . NORMAN BRADBURY. May 31, 1982.