An Apology

Sir—At the election meeting held on Friday 3rd May I was rather embarrassed to have a private matter concerning Mr. Afeaki, Mr. Smythe, and myself, made public.

In my anger at hearing this unwanted (and I feel, unnecessary), publicity I did not deal with the issue very cleverly and began to use an argument I should not have touched. In the event I exaggerated my argument and went further than was necessary or even true. This I regret because although it is public knowledge that I think Mr. Afeaki would not make a good President I did not mean to give the impression that he was not a good executive member. Mr. Afeaki has many exceptional qualities which have been of great use to this executive and many virtues, especially his sincerity and love for the job, which have made him in many, many ways an invaluable executive member. For the comments I made which were so exaggerated as to be quite untrue, and for the false impression I may have left with some people, I offer an unreserved and full apology both to Mr. Afeaki and to Mr. Smythe.