Wizard and census

Press, 3 September 1986, Page 16

Wizard and census

Sir, —Ron Wallace end M. L. Stuart (August 30) are obviously members of the great New Zealand clobbering machine based on a mixture of ignorance and fear of people who are different. Mr Wallace asserts, quite falsely, that I am a self-appointed "wizard” — how I hate those quotation marks. Would a bishop, general or professor enjoy being humiliated in this way? I was appointed official university wizard by Sir Philip Baxter, ViceChancellor of New South Wales University, in February. 1969, and have not had the title taken away. In fact, it was extended in 1970, through the World University Service, to all participating universities in Australasia. Surely, someone who qualifies in his chosen calling at a university is entitled to be considered genuine? If we deny university legiti-

mation of our professionals what happens to our doctors, lawyers, chemists, statisticians, etc? I was, moreover, appointed official Wizard of Christchurch in June, 1980, by the Canterbury Promotions Council, a body made up of city and borough councillors, tourism and industry representatives and people who particularly love Canterbury and everything that makes our region attractive and distinctive. They happen to believe I qualify on both counts. — Yours, etc., WIZARD OF CHRISTCHURCH (lan Brackenbury Channell). August 30, 1986.