Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 44 No. 5. March 30 1981
Letters
Letters
Capitalism for Some
Dear Sir,
In Salient 16/3/81, Gumboot Maniac questions the use of the strike weapon by Trade Unions, and appears on first reading, to have a point. The fallacy of arguments such as his however is contained in the fact that such critics seem to consider actions such as strikes as somehow against the system, or vaguely anti capitalist, when they are, in fact, only the actions of workers seeking in vain to exercise the same economic rights as the capitalist himself.
Capitalism, I suppose, means amongst other things, the right to own private property (Patent goods etc.), the right to do with that property more or less what you will including selling it for as much as you can get, or refusing to sell it at all.
No one seriously objects if a businessman sells his product for as much as he can get, or refuses to sell it because he can't get his price for it. No one objects if an investor withdraws his investment from industry, or refuses to invest at all. Indeed such people may gain a reputation for being good Capitalists even though, in the case of the investor, such activities may lead to bankrupt industries and mass unemployment.
Let the worker however try to be a good capitalist and try to sell his property - his labour - for as much as he can get; or indeed refuse to sell it, or withdraw it by going on strike - such an outcry, such villainy. The State steps in; laws are applied; men are jailed, or threatened with jail; troops and police are mobilised. The worker is not seen as someone seeking to exercise his normal capitalist economic rights. Far from it.
It is true that the State also seeks to regulate the activities of businessmen. Such regulations however are usually badly policed or are ineffectual as in the case of price controls. Or they take the form of subsidies, tax incentives and other such benefits paid by the state to 'encourage' or 'provide incentives' to business.
Certainly the state never uses the police, or troops to force businessmen to do business. Can you remember the last time the state sided with the worker in an industrial dispute?
The fact that the worker, through his union, is not allowed to operate as a good capitalist is a measure of the degree to which capitalist economic rights are not meant to be rights for everyone. And the degree to which capitalism and the state exist to serve the interests of a small minority only.
Yours faithfully,
David Lancashire
More PHIL 101
Dear Geoff,
Re the letter about Phil 101 last week. The student who wrote it has obviously not yet grasped the aims of the course, as you are meant to ask questions and argue with the lecturer. So, I put it to you that this "girl" is not wasting time, and that the other "normal" students will not fully appreciate the art of philosophy until they too join in and try to prove that they, "know more than the lecturer," who is indeed "a nice enough gentleman".
Bertrand R.
Still More PHIL 101
The aforementioned red-headed, feather tafted young lady of a weirdo isn't so bad. It's just that there was an accident when she was conceived; God forgot the brain but added a turbocharger for her mouth.
To be fair the nice enough gentleman of a lecturer gets boring and/or patronizing at times and comic relief is necessary. Her probing thrusts are sometimes pertinent and even witty. However the majority of her "air time" is spent in cheap patronizing points which the rest of us have thought of ourselves, and dismissed as being petty/irrelevant. Cut the crap sister, and we'll love ya. One question. Do you dress like that by choice, or is your mother an Emu?
Assholes
PS. Wonder why she wasn't at Monday's lecture.
A Gem Among Letters
Dear Excellence Editor,
Last Monday I came hurtling at a tremendously ginormous colossal velocity up the drive from Salamanca Road making an H-Iine (no, not B-line, H-line, as in passing in front of the Hunter Building) towards the Union Building (the reason for my fanatically fast fleet footedness was due neither to the imminent danger of falling Hunter bricks nor to the tantalising aromas wafting from the cafe, but because that wonderful paper 'Salient lay within the confines of the aforementioned Union Building) when suddenly, lo and behold, I slowed to a complete standstill, my feet immobilised.
My first thought was that some large-mouthed gum-chewers had sat up all night chewing black gum and then spatted it all upon the ground, or, hang on, was it a large burnt-on-the-outside-gooy-middled pancake? No! some persons, unknown to me, had asphalted the area I was stuck upon. Who authorised this expenditure? Do the ignorant sods not realise that the path from the Union Building down towards Victoria Book Centre is still holed, rutted, uneven and bloody dangerous (not to mention the red and white unfortunate height metal pole) at night, or, is it going to have to wait until some poor bastard trips over and breaks their neck?
T. Sticky-black-footed Sutherland
Your Prayers are Answered Below
Dear Ed,
As I dragged myself through our rag this morning, it struck me that some controversy was needed to liven it up. So where is this 'New Right' I've been hearing about. Are they a fiction? Arise, oh Right, and stand up and scream, or at least write an article for 'Salient'. I'm sure our infamous editor will stop the worship of his Marx photo long enough to correct your grammar, even! How about some of you pro-tour nerds scribbling something between downing pints and beating up Hart protesters. Please, we need some entertainment or at least some humour in the rag. Something to laugh at.
P.S. What am I supposed to have for breakfast if there's no chips?
Yours Temporary
Only Sane Person on Campus
A Pro-Tour letter
To the Editor,
I believe it's high time all these 'stop the tour' chanters sat down and gave a bit of thought to the benefits of a South African tour taking place. Forget all the reasons why it shouldn't happen, we've all heard them too many times already.
I am strongly anti-apartheid, I don't think any thinking New Zealander can be in favour of any form of Racial Discrimination, but I don't believe that refusing to play with the 'kids next door' is going to change a philosophy under which he has become accustomed to, to quote Pauline McKay (Pres. HART) "... the highest standard of living in the world".
By far the best way to change a persons actions is to change his attitudes. By mixing on an equal basis with Blacks and Coloureds it is possible to change the attitude of the White South African sportsman. It can be seen in New Zealand that the strongest "anti-Black" feeling comes from those who have no regular contact (be it work or play) with Islanders and Maoris. A change in South African apartheid laws would be far more beneficial when brought about by the benefactors of White South Africa than when it is forced upon it by outside parties.
If the government is so hell bent on crusading for the plight of the Black and the Coloured South Africans then why don't they attack the basis of South Africa's existence, their economy. They surely can be far more effectively crippled economically than morally.
If Pauline McKay really believes that the Springbok tour will be called off she's got her head up her arse! The National Government is not going to stop the tour. A complete change in attitude by the Government in an election year is about as likely as the successful completion of 'Piggies' economic miracle and Merv. Wellington's chances of being elected as President of NZUSA, and it must be clear to anyone with at least half a brain that the Rugby Union is not going to back down. Anyway how could anyone expect a government to honour the Gleneagles Agreement any more than they have done so when they were blackmailed into it in the first place.
I hope the HART supporters have the good sense not to continue with such pranks as those tried at the Veteran Games in Christchurch. Rugby supporters tend to be a lot more physical than Veteran Games supporters and competitors, and lets face it broken bones will help no one.
Signed Tour Supporter
Penpals
Dear Sir,
I am interested in corresponding with people from New Zealand as penpals.
I am a 24 year old female and a full-time art student studying advertising. I also have interests in graphic design, painting, reading and dancing. I am interested in corresponding with people, preferably males, in the age group of 24-29 years.
If you could help me, I would be most appreciative.
Thank you,
Miss Leslie Fox
USAIf you are interested, see Editor for details.
This is What His Letters are like before We Sub-Edit them
Dear Geoff,
I don't know if I like you any more you didn't publish my letter last week. Poor Stephen published all the letters I submitted to him last year, all Twenty-three of them, so I direct my letter mainly to hoping Stephen gets better so he can continue to publish our Sallyant with my correspondence,
Here goes, Please get better Stephen, Please. Cause as well as printing me letters you also a good mate and I don't like to me good mates sore. One comment that was made in last weeks Sallyant about myself is completely false and inaccurate. I am not a "Marxist" and if I had the month (I haven't because I'm a "Student") I would fight you in the unjust courts, that we have. Also Arshole; Orientation was great and I congratulate the best ever NZUSA president (Simon Wilson) and Paulette for their efforts and attitudes as yours to Bursury and Sharpville give rise to the radical right wing racist-fascist organisations like the national front.
Anyway to get my main topic get, please get better Stephen, Pretty please.
Good luck in the interim Geoff.
Gumboot Maniac
The Intellectual Life
Dear Sir,
This morning I was disgusted by the Cigarette Machine in the Cafe, which gobbled up 50 cents and refused to take the other 50, so I couldn't get any smokes. Pressing the reject button several times failed to return my 50 cents. And... the coffee is too expensive. And... people park in the student car park without stickers making it impossible for paying students to park.
My friend can't stop eating cheese sticks and our love lives are extremely dull and boring. What are you going to do about it?
A very frustrated student (and her friend)