France in the Pacific

Press, 14 October 1985, Page 12

France in the Pacific

Sir, _ France should be invited to join A.N.Z.U.S. The headquarters for this enlarged alliance should be in Noumea. Combined exercises could 1 be carried out in and around New Caledonia. This would help the economy of that country and help ,the Kanaks, who would revert to a isub-standard of living without the French.. Military personnel of the participating nations could be flown or cruise shipped to New Zealand for rest and recreation. — Yours, etc., ! G. M. PETTIGREW. October 10, 1985.

Sir,—How odd that both D. J. O’Rourke and Chris Gilchrist (October 8) attempt to denigrate small town New Zealand, thereby disclosing an undemocratic and somewhat snpbbish attitude, that the repository of all wisdom is only to be found in the “big smoke,” or should I !say smog. How odd that the remarks of the King of Tonga on which my letter was based, escaped attack by these prophets of doom. Living in a “backwater” does not mean that the modem world’s communication systems are unable to reach us, nor stop us from travelling. At-Jeast I have visited Hiroshima twice (1954 and 1975) just to prove the point The demand that 'th&’ French vacate the Pacific because they are an alien people is rubbish. They have as much right here as we have. Finally, if both correspondents are so anti-nuclear, why do they not try picketing and protesting about the Sun? — Yours, etc.,

FORBES TAYLOR. Kurow, ReOctober 8, 1985.