Letters

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 45, 10 June 1965, Page 5

Letters

VIETNAM Sir, — Reading of the endorsement of the resolution by the Taupo branch of the Labour Party regarding Vietnam, and the length of time it has taken these aspiring politicians in arriving at what is a rather nebulous statement, one is immediately given the impression that this resolution has been moved with some attempt at misleading the electorate, in that it does not give any indication of the true feelings and opinions of the people who put forward this resolution, which merely reiterates party line. There is in politics nowaI days an almost overwhelming acceptance of the party line, right or wrong, result,ing very often in the forc- | ing, or at least acceptance, of issues which run contrary to the good of the country and its people. However, ' this is transgressing. The United Nations was put forward as the only body under which New Zealand could even consider sending troops to Vietnam and while I fully agree with this, I feel that it is well known by the Labour Party that this marvellous organ- ■ isation is now ineffective as a peace-keeping body and in great danger of entire :collapse (that this is so is | borne out by statements to | this efTect by U Thant, Sec- ! retary-General, U.N.O., with- | in the last month) and that I this national and local fesoj lution has been put forward with the intention of being non committal on a question which the Labour Party finds embarrassing. To give the interested electorate a true picture of the party's collective and personal opinions, I suggest a public meeting of discussion on the Vietnamese question at which Mrs J. Gallately and M£ D. J. Dickinson would no doubt agree to speak. — Yours, etc., FRANK R. BRYCE.