LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27392, 18 May 1950, Page 8

LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

Sir, —" Matilda ” cites a further list of blood-curdling atrocities, all committed by Russian Communists. As he has probably never been any nearer to Russia than the rest of us, he cannot speak with authority . But we all know, as he knows, that the Communist regime is founded on the principles of Marxism. Marxism involves a thorough investigation into the inner mechanism of the capitalist system, and traces the cruelties of modern life to the operation of that system. Communists could not be so stupid as to take great pains to substitute one form of cruelty for another. I have been wondering when we should be deluged with atrocity stories from China. A beginning was recently made when we were told the Chinese Communists were exporting grain to Russia and leaving their own people to- suffer from famine. —X am. etc., H. Gow. Balclutha.

Sir, —To observe “Matilda” in Russophobian guise vigorously whipping up the ancient Bolshevik bogey, with all its fantastic trappings, at this time of day, must be a sheer delight to the very young or the very simple. But when this mood leads him to give expression to ultrareactionary sentiments such as those in the last paragraph of his letter in your issue of Monday, in whioh a veiled threat is conveyed against those who dare to think along any but the strictest orthodox lines, the matter assumes a more serious aspect, and is calculated to, make the judicious grieve, for such sentiments should not be tolerated in any free deFortunately, recent State elections across the Tasman appear to indicate that the tide of public opinion is turning against the attempts now in progress to introduce the police regime into Australia. Mr Menzies, the leading Australian prototype of all the Matilda +ribe wherever found, is not likely to reign long. " Matilda ” should take note. —I am. etc.. Rattar.