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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 30, No. 9. 1967.

Letters to the editor

page 11

Letters to the editor

Commissioner wrong

Sirs,—On the assumption that doctors sometimes forget what a healthy person looks like, someone should have asked the Commissioner of Police after his lunchtime talk on homosexuality and the law whether he had any doubts about the accuracy of his opinions on homosexuals. Could it be that sociologists, social workers and clergy know more about them and their problems than the police do because homosexuals are more likely to confide in them? Could it be that these trained people, who are well represented in the law reform movement, have contacts with a wider variety of homosexuals including those who have come to terms with themselves and with life?

The Commissioner was, in effect, judging the majority of society by the thieves and thugs, rioters and rapists whom it is his duty to prosecute when the evidence is available. The evidence—and evidence ought to be his business—is also available on many of the points he tried to make, but these facts are so different from his opinions that his case is not proven.

The Commissioner might also have been asked whether senior officers of the Justice Department agree with him and his outspoken officer at Christchurch. Some of us know the answer. He might be surprised at the advice given by many prison psychiatrists to homosexuals whom his officers have taken great trouble to convict, even to the extent of sometimes using decoys to tempt latent homosexuals—whom the Commissioner told us are not breaking any law—into being active ones who could then be arrested.

J. W. Goodwin.
Secretary, N.Z. Homosexual Law Reform Society.

Dastardly Students

Sirs,—There was a letter in the Evening Post on June 29 from "Mother of Six" (what happened to the other four?) which began: "It is obvious P. D. Harrison and Gerard Guthrie were not present at the University open forum when certain students chose to drain from the ferment of their minds thoughts that could not but repel the most tolerant."

By Gum! I'd like to know who those dastardly fermenting students were. But one thing is rather odd—I would almost have sworn Gerard Guthrie was there. However. . . .

M. J. Robb.

Dear Hugh

Sirs,—That delightful comment about "that delightful letter about the elections" by lone Cynic, was written by a Salient contributing editor, Hugh Rennie. Come now, Hugh, surely you understand the letter a bit better than that! And, dear Hugh, cast your eyes into the gutter and perceive there—"A cynic—a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing"—dear Oscar,

P. R. Rapp.

For both sexes

'Sirs,—I was very pleased to note that at least one lavatory-wall artist has at last come into the open to display his talents to viewers of both sexes. This was adequately displayed on visiting the exhibition of Czech prints, held in the activities room, where the artist (unfortunately still anonymous) had expertly applied his blue ballpoint to emphasise the nipple of a woman's breast.

M. J. R. Gaffikin.

Vic stocking

Sirs,—Why not have a decent Vic scarf instead of one looking like an elongated grandmother's knitted stock-ing? Admittedly the colours suggest more in the way of a football supporter's club but surely Vic is more than this, despite what some people think.

Two thin yellow stripes running along the length on a dark green background, on a closely woven woollen cloth would look much better than the present design. Most likely sell better or as well!

C. Lloyd.