Taylor press coverage bad

Sirs,—Press and TV reports on the demonstrations against Taylor vary considerably in their account of facts, but were unable to disguise the principal fact that demonstrations took place. It is actual happenings which are news. Press. TV and radio, here seem to consider that it is statements of opinion, from the conservative side of course, which are news. These are varying statements of fact, as processed in the normal way. by Wellington news media.

TV 730 newscast August 1 reported 450 Victoria students marched to Parliament becoming part of a crowd numbering 2000. The Evening Post August 1. reports in its first paragraph, " a crowd of about 6000" (figure poorly printed, difficult to know what first symbol was). Then in its third paragraph—'The crowd num-tiered 1800." As to the student participation, the tenth paragraph states "A march of nearly 1200 university students, plus a few lecturers."

The same TV report described six pro-war demonstrators. The Evening Post report discovered ten of same. Do they mean six ten-year-olds or ten six-year-olds? One of them at any rate who had escaped from the Wizard of Id comic strip, carried a placard proclaiming "Every Communist is a Fink." He, of course, got pride of place in the only Evening Post photograph of the Student March.

The next morning the Dominion assessed the number of demonstrators at 700. On the night of the demon strations, the 11pm BBC World Service drawing upon what sources of Information one cannot guess but obviously not the NZBC services, also placed the number at 700.

On comparatively simple matters of fact such as these, the news media do not seem to know whether it is Christmas or New Year. These events occurred in Wellington. How accurate is the coverage of events so far away as Saigon which are subject to US military as well as local editorial censorship.

On what real basis then can they determine editorial policy. How do the policy makers decide whether in fact the Vietnamese war is one for national independence as described by U Thant, or a big hearted defence of Vietnamese Asians 6000 miles from America against so-called aggression from their own countrymen?

They really do not care, do they? Whatever they are supporting is right, whatever their motives and regardless of the facts.

Ibsen review

Sirs,—For the first time I am in almost complete disagreement with a Salient review.

"The Lady from the Sea" was one of the Drama Club's best productions. It is true that the actors, apart from Linda Sacklin, were not up to professional standards, but they all showed a warm awareness of each other and of the play's meaning which communicated itself to the audience and which was more important than mere polish.

I certainly do not suggest that good intentions are any substitute for good acting; here, we had good intentions realised in good acting.

Good, because the acting was a vehicle for an intelligent interpretation rather than something obstrusive in itself.

Each character probed his or her own potential area of development in a play which, among other things, embodies a sensitive exploration of the relationship between personal freedom and prsonal commitment.

The meanlnglessness of a choice made under pressure is obvious: but the absence of pressure in a complex situation is almost impossible to achieve.

This was beautifully illustrated by Carol Phelps as Bolette when, in order to achieve her freedom, she denies her own personality.

Ellida's related dilemma was resolved in a very moving scene. My one point of agreement with your reviewer, P. Stevens, is the suspicion that Miss Sacklin did not completely understand this role. She gave a consistent interpretation, but one which was perhaps a little too docile. too pathetic, for a woman torn by duty and a lust for the sea and all it represented in the play. But her relationship with her husband, Wangel developed very effectively.

Here, Miss Stevens's speculations on Tony Lenart's posture are at variance with her requirement that a character should be realised in manners as well as in mind. I could find no fault with Tony Lenart's presentation of a humble, bewildered man, benevolent yet not without faults.

The supporting characters were not dull; they were not unoriginal; they worked out their variations on the theme with a concern for the personal as well as for the unifying generality which Ibsen sets forth. Ken Laraman's Lyngstrand was engagingly selfish and naive, avoiding sentimentality and providing a delicate mixture of sadness and nonchalance. Carol Phelps also combined thought-fulness and impetuosity in a fine balance, and Anita Woolf made a very sinister adolescent.

But I don't wish to praise individual actors so much as to appreciate the whole, which I feel your reviewer failed to do. A production relies on the relationship between actors, producer, and play, and it was this relationship which was so satisfying in "The Lady from the Sea.

Finally, may I suggest to P. Stevens that sarcasm is not the worthiest tool of a reviewer?

Disassociated

Sirs,—We wish to dissociate ourselves from Mr. W. J. Hall's attacks on the new Asian Studies policy, and on pro-iessor Brookes. Having participated in the discussions which led to the drafting of the new policy, we can confirm that Professor Brookes' statements (which Mr. Hall calls "inventions") are correct. We wish to emphasise that the new policy was framed not by Professor Brookes but by ourselves, together with other staff (including Mr. Hall) who are teaching about Asia; Professor Brookes' role was that of an impartial chairman, and the main features of the new policy were not his ideas but emerged from group discussion.

We find it odd that Mr. Hall should be criticising the new policy, since it supplies so much of what he says he wants: interdisciplinary study (in the new Honours programme), graduate research in Asia for our advanced students, and the introduction of teaching in Asian languages. Indeed, we are at a loss to understand why he should so misrepresent the nature of the new policy. We question whether such intemperate attacks are likely to foster the development of Asian studies in this university.