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The Faction Line

If you've ever read "Socialist Action", the revolutionary socialist fortnightly of New Zealand, recently you'll notice that the S.A.L. is on again about 'red-baiting'. Its really shocking how much the old discred-itedlefty parties like the Manson/Bailey gang and their youthful running-dogs smear and redbait the Socialist Action League. No genuine socialist would stoop so low, of course. That's why its hard to work out why the dynamic Young Socialist candidates standing in the elections are running on a policy of anti-disruption and throwing shit at their rivals, where they can.

But when you look at the Young Socialists' policies you'll notice Ian Powell getting into Peter Wilson, and Graeme Cook son getting into Don Carson. Of course Don Carson did not lead any sit-downs in Lambton Quay during the Mobe, but that's only a mere factual detail. Liberals like us have to learn the difference between genuine criticism and red-baiting - a long educative process because sometimes the difference's hard to tell.

The really funny thing of all is the Young Socialists' smear on self-styled 'radical' candidates especially Carson and Wilson. No one really knows how red Carson is, but as for Wilson voters should know that the other day he received a large envelope through the mail addressed to Peter "Rabbit ' Wilson H A.R. T. Area Officer. Inside, neatly wrapped in tissue paper was a large cabbage leaf. We trust he put his pi ft to good effect.

Next time you're in Cuba Mall on a Friday night and see happy P. V. seller, Selwyn Devereux, the local CP. branch chairman, ask if its true that he owns and rents a flat. A prize of one life-size photo of Enver Hoxha will be offered to the first person who can supply us with the answer.

Some student opponents of abortion must be feeling frustrated at the ineffectiveness of their own arguments, judging by recent events. Their reaction to the coming march for repeal of the abortion laws on July 28 has simply been an attempt to blot out all the publicity material put up by the Abortion Action Committee. Not only have posters pasted up around the university area and in town have had anti-abortion stickers slapped on them, right over the information regarding the march.

It seems strange that they should want to stamp out this information, since they intend to take part in the march themselves, at the tail end. If their performance on Friday is the same as it was on May 5 (the last march for the right to abortion) it will add to their discredit On that occasion there were about 50 anti-abortion people behind the main march of 300, most of them raucous, oafish males shouting "murder" and, while laughing and jeering at the woman for repeal, claiming allegiance to the imaginary "unborn child". At the meeting following the march, loud male voices succeeded in disrupting the speeches continuously, so. that they could not be heard.

The irony of it all: anti-abortionists are using the swastika to smear those wanting the law repealed. Not only are their tactics reminiscent of fascist suppression - they don't seem to realise that Hitler brought in the death penalty for abortion.

Who are they trying to fool?