Soviet peace workers

Press, 2 May 1985, Page 20

Soviet peace workers

Sir, — I’m glad IkenozeneHewton Gerard is still around. If he is so sure of his case against what he continues to insist is a communist threat to Africa, why did he twice fail to keep arranged meetings with Susan Taylor and myself to discuss, in a friendly, informal way his view of the desirable future for Black Africa? He implies (April 29) that all of my information comes from Soviet propaganda sources — which is a definite distortion. His list of alleged Marxist-type Governments in modern Africa proves nothing but normal political evolution. I could name as many capitalist-style selfgoverning African States. Most of them are struggling to survive and prosper, against heavy odds — regardless of historical, religious, political or economic factors, and drought. — Yours, etc.,

M. T. MOORE. April 29, 1985.

Sir,—lkenozene-Newton Gerard has lived in several Marxist-Lenin-ist dictatorships and has written to tell us how miserable they are. M. T. Moore, who has probably been no nearer to a communist country than the local socialist bookshop, writes about how wonderful they are. Why is it that most of New Zealand’s communist apologists have never been near a communist country? Why are many of New Zealand’s most ardent freedom lovers refugees from the communist paradises of Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia? — Yours, etc., T. R. LOUDON. April 29, 1985.