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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol 37, No. 16. July 10, 1974

Under Attack

Under Attack

One of the unholiest of all unholy alliances has been formed by the right-wing, raving 'NZ Truth' newspaper and the national "Catholic" weekly 'The Tablet". The reason for their union was an article in the June 5 issue of Salient called "Questions for a Guerilla".

'Truth' describes Salient's action as "irresponsible and stupid". 'The Tablet' says it wants Government action, though it doesn't say it wants the Government to do.

Both papers' attacks are grossly irrational. 'Truth' describes the article in breathless detail, sounding more like an advertisement than a condemnation.

Below its article it prints a list of bombing incidents in New Zealand. The mute implication that the incidents are connected to the likes of the Salient article, is entirely without foundation. Even 'Truth' knows this and it didn't attempt to relate the two.

Alongside are a few paragraphs quoting various sources. The police apparently said that only a legal technicality saved Salient and its editor from prosecution. The police didn't reveal the technicality, and 'Truth' makes no guess. Why not? Because the 'technicality' is in fact a central issue in our favour—that in no way did we suggest or exhort that readers should actually follow the advice in the article. This is the difference between our article and an article in the underground magazine 'Ferret', which did suggest use of bombing techniques, and was fined for it.

Salient did not print the article so that people would actually use the techniques described. Salient has no illusions about the revolutionary potential of its readers, who are mostly middle-class meal ticket seekers, more interested in the library than the barricades. We printed the article, as we stated, because it is interesting background material to a subject very much in the public eye.

It is revealing however, to see two right wing newspapers run for cover as soon as they see something in print about Guerillas other than their daily diet of smears on 'terrorists', 'massacres', etc.

Let them rest assured that Salient does not consider that the time is ripe in New Zealand for guerilla activity. Far from it, and indeed we condemn bombing, etc, by young 'radicals' as being counterproductive. At this stage in New Zealand's history we support the direct action of workers, socially concerned pressure groups and progressive unions as a means of effecting political change and increasing political awareness.

But why did Truth' and 'The Tablet' attack Salient? The "Questions for a Guerilla" material was purchased from a reputable bookshop in this country, and similar material is available from many others. Similar information, often far more accurate and explicit, and about much more sophisticated weapons, is available in university and public libraries up and down the country. Information and graphic depiction of guerilla activity is often to be seen on TV and films—for instance the current film 'American Graffiti' depicts how to wreck a police car.

Why attack Salient, then, ahead of all these other sources? Is it because of our politics? On a number of occasions this year we have criticised 'Truth,' directly (for instance on its stance on the de Silva affair). We are and have been at odds with 'The Tablet' on a large number of issues in the past. For instance, 'The Tablet' conducted a smear campaign against the Release All Vietnam Prisoners of Conscience organisation, which Salient supports. 'The Tablet' was in favour of New Zealand's involvement in the Vietnam War, and has taken a right-wing stance on a number of issues such as law and order.

'The Tablet's' attack on us is disturbing because it reeks of censorship, it blames our printers, implying that they should be censors first and tradesmen second. 'The Tablet' asks "if a Christchurch printer was prosecuted, should it [our printer] not be prosecuted....' ignoring the fact that the 'Ferret' printer was prosecuted on a qualitatively different offence.

It blames our publishers, the Students' Association, implying that they should have "disciplinary powers" over Salient. This newspaper's editorial independence has been won for years and is highly valued, not only by us, but also by the Students' Association itself.

'The Tablet' implies that students should not have absolute freedom from the University Council in 'matters such as the publication of their magazines'. Where would this attitude lead, if not back into the darkest days of the nineteenth century?

'Truth's' attacks on Salient can be dismissed as merely typical of its style of sensation-seeking journalism. But 'The Tablet's' attack is more significant. Despites its frequent right-wing position, or perhaps because of it, 'The Tablet' is respected in some quarters as an influential journal of Catholic opinion. Salient joins with the large number of Catholics who have rejected 'The Tablet's' often reactionary and repressive outlook on a variety of matters it really knows nothing about.

Beware the Bombers article from the Truth