However, jublication at this stage will be premature. There should be no illusion that the problem is solved. The dam in only temporary shut, and the flood gates will be opened again only too soon. A leapord never changes its spots. It will only be more subtle next time round. Also the recent furore of interest of the superpowers over South East Asia is a cause for worry. It will not be altogether surprising that in the next few years South East Asia might become another 'Middle East.'

Back on the local campus, a forum on the Vietnamese refugees was organised by MSSA-NOSAC before the second term holiday. Hugo Manson, a TV reporter and Mary-Ann Thompson, political Science lecturer spoke at the forum. It is applaudable what Mr Manson has been doing, ie pressuring the New Zealand government to take in more refugees. New Zealand could well afford to lake many thousands more, considering the huge emmigrant rate for the past few years. However, I believe an equally important aspect of the work (which has been neglected) will be explaining the real issue to the people, to go beyond appealing to their sentiments and humanity. This is especially important in view of the cultural differences and the subsequent rejection of integration into the community. A number of people at the forum related their experiences of being victims of racial prejudice, and pointed out the overt racist policies of the present government in prosecuting minority groups.

Ms Thompson's analysis of the political background to the refugee problem was disappointing. Typical of academics, she gave various vague political possibilities for a permutation of root causes, not wanting to commit a clear political stand. Many who came for an answer were at a loss. However, a few were adamant it is part of a plot for Russian hegemony in South East Asia.

The Malaysian regime's role in the whole affair was apparently of more interest to the participants in the forum. Unfortunately, the issue was diverted before any in depth analysis was possible. However, those who spoke were unanimous in condemning the inhumane treatment of the refugees by the Malaysian authorities. Also an intellectual debate ensued as to whether the Malaysian authorities will actually carry out the threat to shoot the refugees. With all respect, the Malaysian High Commission might have been able to provide an answer to that. I heard that a formal invitation was sent to them, and by curious coincidence, everyone at the High Commission has some other appointments on that same night!!!

Gay Rights Equal Human Rights

I would like to inform you that you have no ground to stand on, unless your evident list of prejudices is to be so accounted!

First I take exception to your claim that the promotion of Gay Rights is harmful to both the individual as well as to society. Gay Rights are human rights. They apply with just as much force to straights. Is it right that gay people should lose their jobs purely on the grounds of their being gay? Would it be right that straight people should loose their jobs because of their being straight? Gay people have to earn their keep just as much as straight people or doesn't Middle Ground think so? Then why should the gay person be sent to prison for loving someone of the same sex, for that is how the present law is so arranged? Then again is it right that the gay person can be legally thrown out of their flat on the grounds of being gay?

A funny fellow is this Middle Ground who is on one hand all compassion and yet on the other doesn't believe gay people have the right to live or to be human. The only real problem we gay people have in life is ignorant straight twits, like yourself, who like to have all their discriminations and prejudices legalized in oppressive laws. But then of course as a salve to their automatic consciences they like to pass themselves oft as compassionate and all caring people on some self proclaimed middle ground. Well my friend, for I do have some compassion for you, most of New Zealand is right behind law change and human rights for gay people as all the most recent opinion polls have shown.

It is my opinion that it is your type of person that damages society for the oppression of any person or minority in a society is a loss to that society as a whole!

I suggest that Middle Ground also gets to reading that Masters and Johnson study in detail and put aside the sensationalism of newspaper headlines. Perhaps he could also read something a bit more recent than Freud, and if he has a library (other than newspapers of course) he might like to find out the numerous gay authors that will exist among it. Rather than damaging society we 10% probably contribute 50% of its cultural worth. But alas, who will write our oppressed histories.

Now it seems reasonable to believe that is when Middle Ground gets over his normal state of sexual confusion and his unthinking gut motivated reactions, that if he were to take a really compassionate stance in this matter that some of his gay friends; and we all have gay friends, might honour him by coming out to him. It is on the behalf of these people that I would like to sign this letter.

Mountain Madness

We, fully paid members of the Students' Association and Victoria Ski Club, do hereby declare open season on all committee members of the Ski Club. 'Ah', you say to yourself. 'Why should these Joe and Josephine Average students be acting in such a right-winged, Saxby-orientated, 'cliquo' manner?' The answser is simple. We are pissed off, utterly and totally, due to the similarly neo-facist actions of certain committee members, whose names will not be mentioned, (What the hell — Vicki K and Denise R) who unjustly drove eleven Josephine and Joe Average students (one was crippled) into the cold, biting, arctic night conditions. These actions were inspired by the ineptitude of one Robert Moes (an incompetent cunt, if ever there was one) who overbooked the lodge by approximately 20.3 people one night. The fact that they booked seven of us into plush, sumptuous, four-star, alternative accomodation at no extra cost (although eleven of our party went) docs not molify the hurt and indignation suffered by the nine surviving members of the purge. To be cast out by our fellow members has left a permanent scar on our psyche. As a result of this incident the surviving members of the party will be joining the Wellington Tramping Club next year (cups of tea in bed in the morning, T-bone steaks for breakfast, carpet in the loos, hot water showers, central heating and geisha girls.)

In memorium to the two members of the party lost in the blizzard on August 12, and the potatoes cooked in detergent up at Vic Lodge.

Whinging Malaysians?

I see all the whinging Malaysian-Chinese students (using their Malay non-de-plumes) trashing their garbage on the pages of Salient again!

Haven't they been convinced that they are foreign nationals in New, Zealand, and should behave as such? They do not seem to realise how moderate and tolerant New Zealanders are towards whinging foreigners. If only this were my country, I would personally go to any lengths to make sure that there is not a single grumbling foreign student left on this side of the 200-mile fishing limit.

I was very impressed by David K. Lo's letters that you have published a few weeks ago. Now there is a proud Malaysian student who should be a model to every foreign student in this country. My congratulations to David.

I know that most of the students from South East Asia (especially the stirrers among them) are not only filthy rich, but are darn lazy as well. There are several foreign students I know in New Zealand (mostly from the Pacific area) who pay their own way through varsity. Unlike any of the NOSAC stirrers they seem to be able to find vacation employment and save enough to see them through the following year. So what are these Malaysian student-radicals and their cronies third world over whinging about?

Talking about Malaysian student leaders from other countries, remember the one who visited these remote shores from an organisation by the name of the Federation of the United Kingdom and Eire Malaysian-Singaporean Students' Organisations, with the acronym FUEMSSO? Well, I reckon that a more correct and appropriate acronym for this hallowed organisation ought to be FUKEMSSO — Got it?

Public Apology

Last week a letter was published in which I intimated that Cathy Marshall was — to put it mildly — sexually promiscuous. Unavoidable arguments have changed my viewpoint, and I now realize just how far this statement is from the truth.

Thus I have no hesitation in withdrawing it completely and without reservation and tendering my profuse apologies to Ms. Marshall.

Revive Tees

I was gratified to see the notice in Salient concerning the Studass by-election for the President as I am pleased to see that my words have been noted with regard to inherent unfairness of not having one.

I totally agree with the letter of Salient 3 September from D. Hartington, J. Aitken, Flatmate, and D. Alexander who recomend that Andrew Tees put his name, forward for the presidential elections as I am sure that the majority of student opinion is firmly behind him in that he appears to be the only President we have had lately, that considers what the students actually want rather than what he "thinks they want".

I also strongly support the notion of a no confidence vote as this can be extremely useful in the realm of student politics as has been shown at recent SRC's where Ms Massof appointment has been repeatedly rejected by the very group of students that she is supposed to be representing.

Overlooked Graffiti

When searching for your 'graffiti of the week' have you ever frequented the toilets of the Gym? Especially the one on the far left. I am personally responsible for at least pieces of outstanding graffiti.

How about it. Take a look.

Smart Arses Grovel

Your most worshipful and heavenly holiness B6700.

Your most humble and grovelling users (not as often as we'd like, due to SOBS) prostrate ourselves at the enormity of your miraculous gift to us, in the form of divine revelation in the letter to Salient. We are only able to express ourselves in common english due to the fact that our minds have not been sufficiently modified to converse in the pure language of numbers yet, this can only come in the final stage of ecclesiastical perfection (when you sacrifice your mother to an INTEL 8080 on the night of the spring equinox .)

(Speech at opening of first protective parliament, delivered September 4, 1654.)

(Address delivered before the Noddy Wilmot New England Society december 22, 1876. Mark Twain was actually born in corrupt America but at least it was on the night that Halley's comet reappeared.)

Finally, to cheer up any downhearted third year INFO disciples, at least you get to miss the so called "news" on both channels with your lectures starting six post meridiem and hence do not get subjected to such vile heresy as "Worker's unhappy about layoffs due to computer automation." After all, who do these people think they are, they should be glad to give up their lives to the new and most powerful religion.

A Question for Carr-Gregg

Shouldn't Ikon be I Cant?

Who reads Ikon?

If Ikon represents the average student, does this mean that Salient represents the above average student?

[unclear: cebos] says Addley's pure

[unclear: was] dismayed to see that the elusive J.C. [unclear: e] is still producing his purile stream of [unclear: e] through the medium of your pages and [unclear: to] remind him that Saturday night may recure if he continues his high handed [unclear: eh]. However as I always forgive my [unclear: es] I shall say no more about the matter, [unclear: jo] are of course right out when it comes to [unclear: bject] of the glorious Almighty, may His [unclear: a] be sung till the end of time, as they are [unclear: nly] enormously stupid animals but they all their lives dancing around the place [unclear: hey] get eaten.

[unclear: n]also shocked to see the positions which [unclear: heco] offered to Miss C. Addley by that [unclear: incarnate] Walter Superllama extroadinaire [unclear: s] offends me deeply as I know that Miss [unclear: ry] is as pure and virginal as the driven snow [unclear: ould] never consider llamas at all.

[unclear: real] Issue on the Elections

[unclear: ex] the Ikon mongrels are at it again. I [unclear: I] up one of their absurd leaflets the other [unclear: hich] stated that the big issue for the [unclear: SA] elections is making the Association [unclear: talic]. For heavens sake, can't they get it [unclear: iar] heads that we students are facing one [unclear: ie] biggest attacks on educational [unclear: runities] seen in this country since the

Government is clearly of the view that [unclear: sities] are a luxury it cannot afford to [unclear: ly] fund. It has reduced the grant to [unclear: sities], it has introduced a vicious bursary [unclear: i], and we can fully expect that next year [unclear: ttacks] will continue.

[unclear: it] we need is an executive, and a President, as experience in campaign work against [unclear: ttacks.] If we don't get it, the simple fact is [unclear: re] will be in big big trouble next year, [unclear: tie] who tries to sidetrack us from this does a [unclear: re] to the government and betrays students.

[unclear: got] Guts

[unclear: fer] to the letters in Salient dated 3.9.79, Attacks on David Lo, and would like to [unclear: ent] on the immature and factually [unclear: ect] statements about him.

[unclear: quite] evident to many students, that [unclear: fgfg] has written is very true. Mr Lo seems to be [unclear: ly] Malaysian at VUW, who seems to have [unclear: ts] to stand up against those bigots who run [unclear: UA] and MSSA; these spineless people who [unclear: teh] condemn the New Zealand Government, but dare not even whimper at the racial intolerance in their own country.

Sure, Mr Lo was an activist who collected signatures of protest against Tun Ruzak in 1977. (Not the 45% cut-back; Get your facts right Salleh.) He was fighting for the freedom on speech and political prisoners in Malaysia.

The fact still remains that we are overseas students, studying here at the invitation of the New Zealand government and the people. Well Salleh and S. Ng, if you don't like it here, get the bloody hell out, and stop ruining the already tarnished image of overseas students.

Sad to say many Malaysian students are nothing but a pain. Any overseas Chinese is stereotyped a Malaysian, and is in general shunned by other students. They move in cliquey groups, creating their own suburbs of Petaling Jaya in Wellington. Above all these Malaysians are not as poor as they claim to be. Just go down to the TAB on Saturdays and you will see what I mean. Please don't use the excuse, "They are the local Chinese," for we all know they are not.

Sure we are an oppressed people back home, but after a while we learn to live with it, to survive, so Salleh and S.Ng, don't go around writing all this garbage. The plain truth is that you both don't have any guts to express your true feelings to your own Government, so you use Salient to attack the only level-headed Malaysian around.

If we have to pay for our education, we jolly well pay, or get out. Maybe the proverbial Abu Sajed would like to comment. As for you dumb Malaysians, don't bother, you're all so thick that you'll probably repeat the same trash written by Salleh and S.Ng.

Comments on Caroline

Well, it's that lime of the year again. The time when students can elect an executive to guide the course of our association's future. For next year the fight must go on against the cuts applied against students and over all education system. There are continuing matters of Course assessment, building programmes directly affecting students. Issues affecting students generally such as maoriland issues, gay rights, abortion and women's rights.

Especially in the field of Eduction Fight backs, this association needs a strong progressive executive, with determined and forthright leadership. For we must fight to remove the stigma of the student in society. The access of people to study at Universities must not be limited by economic reason. We must fight for the removal of the Tertiary Study Grant which is fraught with inadequacies. We must continue the struggle for a fair and equitable bursary.

So we must first have leadership, with the position of President being filled by a person who will continue to move forward, in the various issues involved in this election. That is why I see Caroline Massof as the only candidate capable of fulfilling the position of president. From my contact with Caroline Massof in the education fightback campaign, and in the position as interim president, she is the only person with the necessary expertise, foresight, and leadership. Caroline is the person this association needs to be our president, with the energy and organisational talent to mould this association into a strong, united and fighting body working for you and me, the students. The dedication Caroline has shown in the position of Women's Vice- President and as Interim President shows the qualities necessary for the position of President.

More on NZUSA finances

I read with interest your article, on pages eight and nine of Salient, Volume 42, Number 21, entitled A Legacy of Financial Problems and believe there exists a need to correct one or two errors.

Firstly, NZUSA as a member of the International Student Conference and its travel commission, the International Student Travel Conference had been issuing the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) throughout the 1960's. The increase in sales of ISIC's from about 1,000 per year to in excess of 25,000 plus per year occurred following the negotiation of the Student Standby Scheme with NAC in May 1972.

Second, the capital to form the Student Travel Bureau Ltd was raised from the Travel Reserve Fund which stood at nearly $20,000 at the end of 1974. This Fund had been generated from surpluses made by the then NZUSA Student Travel Bureau. No loans were or have ever been raised for the capital of the Travel company. Loans for the purchase of Student Union House and shares in other NZUSA owned companies were however raised from constituents.

Third, it is the intention of the Board of Directors of the travel company to sign a new agreement with NZUSA to allow for the repayment of monies owed to STB Ltd by NZUSA. in respect to the AUS Student Travel debt, to be repaid from the ISIC surcharge of $NZ2.00 per card. This will allow the repayment of this aspect of the debt by mid 1981 assuming the Nev. Zealand dollar docs not devalue significantly against the Australian dollar (Something I suspect is most likely to occur as the country continues to slide deeper into its current economic crisis.)

Apart from the above I again compliment you on your role of explaining the somewhat complex financial matters surrounding NZUSA to the members of VUWSA (Inc.) One wishes other student newspaper editors had the ability or inclination to do likewise.

Finally, a note concerning the future of students and their involvement in travel activities. I received this week advice that "the All China Youth Federation (being a nationwide youth representation of the Peoples Republic of China which includes students and youth in general in its ranks) has at its recent general meeting in Peking (held during May) passed a resolution to develop a youth travel company and the decision has been approved by the Chinese Central Government. Now the preparatory work at the head office in Peking and the branch office in Kwangtung (Guangdong) Province is underway. Their services will consist mainly of receiving youth tours, renovating old buildings and construcing new youth hostels". I am pleased to announce we are working with this new company and other student travel companies in Asia to organise student and youth tours of China Those interested in such tours should contact their on campus Student Travel sales office

Students not Fooled

Like the "average" student in last week's Salient, I too get pissed off with people claiming to be middle of the road, non-political, or a wishy washy dingbat with no political viewpoint. That's why I was particularly annoyed to read King Andrew Dethroned by Leslie Brown which claimed to be an objective assessment of the political situation at Vic.

In a patronising and arrogant manner worthy of a Paul Norman, he gave advice to the "right" and the "left" on how to improve their profile. He also spent a great deal of space in the article attacking Caroline Massof. He claimed from an objective viewpoint that Caroline Massof was just not acceptable to large numbers of students. Some objectivity! Thus, I was really surprised to see that he is standing for the position of President. It seems to me very "political" and manipulative to first of all set yourself up as the students' friend, nearly attack your opponent and then offer yourself as the savour in white armor. Sorry Leslie, students aren't that easily fooled.

Do it Now

It is important that you see your Student Travel Centre as soon as possible.

The special student airfare rates apply from November through to February.

So see us soon about your Australian holiday.

Working and Living: a Typical Example

Annabelle Lush: New Zealand student who went to Australia November '77 to January '78

Annabelle left Auckland on November 18 (a Friday). By the following Tuesday she had two job offers. Her initial outlay for the trip was the airfare plus $200 spending money.

For the first fortnight she stayed at the Sydney YWCA (SAUS 57 per week including breakfast). Later she found a flat at SAUS 26 a week.

Annabelle's hotel waitress job earned SAUS 110 a week clear plus SAUS 100 in tips. She also got all her tax back at the end of the holiday.

At the end of January she came back to New Zealand with $1300 in her pocket — as well as having spent money seeing Sydney. Melbourne and Canberra.

*N.Z International Departure Tax payable in addition.

Stop Labelling Salient Staff

As a member of Salient staff and recently elected SRC representative on the publications board, I am increasingly disturbed by the tendency for people to label me as holding or espousing certain political or religious beliefs.

Since I began working on production of Salient at the end of the first term I have been regularly labelled as 'communist', 'Trotskyist', 'Maoist', 'Marxist', 'Marxist-Leninist' and so forth.

I write this letter as I am deeply disturbed at allegations made in a leaflet entitled: Holocaust — Two views published by New Zealand Jewish Students. In this leaflet I am by implication (as a member of Salient staff) accused of anti-Semitism, of espousing fascist 'National Front' propaganda, and of opposing Zionism and supporting the PLO.

These charges are made against Salient and its 'coterie' as a result of a review of the television series Holocaust, published in Salient of July 9th, written from a viewpoint which has been interpreted as anti-Semitic. The accusation is that because the writer of the article expressed certain views, the Salient newspaper, its editor and staff therefore, must uphold these views.

I totally fail to comprehend the line of reasoning that says that the Salient staff are in accordance with all views expressed in all articles published in the newspaper they work for. How can any person be held responsible for something which they did not write?

It seems patently obvious to me that as the editor of the paper has an obligation to present both sides of any controversy, he will often have to publish material with which he or any of his staff may disagree. The writer/s of the Jewish Students' leaflet have chosen to ignore the fact that on July 23 in the special 'Eduction Fightback' issue, Salient carried an article condemning the National Front, and on July 30 articles replying to the original Holocaust review, expressing an opposing viewpoint.

I reiterate that I do not wish to be held responsible for the views expressed by Salient contributors on any issue, be it Zionism, International politics. Gay Rights, Abortion or anything else. The only articles I am responsible for are those that carry my by-line. I am proud to work for Salient, and I am proud to sign my name to this letter.

No Musical Taste

Neil Young is a genius.

A Tale of a Pig

Once upon a recent time, Ah Tee boarded a DC10 flight and arrived at the pretty wonderland in the Southern Hemisphere. At the beginning, all was so very nice. The wonderlands milk and honey have sweetened Ah Tee's many golden dreams.

In Ah Tees' many dreams, a monster who calls itself 'pig' always appears. The pig used to say 'Look, Ah Tee, I am the master of the wonderland. What I say is law. What you say is shit.' Shocked and scared at the almighty giant. Ah Tee can 'only say, 'Yes, my Lord. I will always be your servant and obey everything you say.'

Ah Tee learns in his dreams that Ah Tong was insulted by the pig, for marrying Tina Thompson, Ah Chang's sister cannot come to the wonderland to study because of the pig's are which makes a 45% chop, Ah Lan had to return home because her cap was taken away by the pig and etc.....

Ah Tee cannot understand why he dreams so much about the pig. He thinks may be it is only a natural thing because he is in pig's wonderland and has heard and seen so much about him. Ah Tee always says to himslef, 'Why do I worry so much about the pig. After all, the pig's never disturbed my peace.'

One night, Ah Tee dreamed that his high school friend, Ah Ong, has to pay $1500 to the pig for staying in the pig's wonderland. The $1500 question had electrified Ah Tee a bit. After recovering from the shock, he says, 'So what, after all, I don't have to pay the $1500 fee,'

Over the August vacation, Ah Tee was awoken in a nightmare when he learnt that postgraduate students have to pay the $1500. The pig has hinted that Ah Tee may not be allowed to work during the end of year's holiday. Ah Tee is caught in a dilemna. He wants to continue his Ph.D degree in physics but he is so poverty stricken. 'Oh God, what can I do now,' Ah Tec cries helplessly. His golden dream is broken. The pig has come to him finally. He realises that it's too late.

The New Zealand Government has announced over the August vacation that overseas students intending to take up post graduate courses in 1980 will have to pay the $1500 fee. First they came for the high school students, and the intending students from overseas, then they came for the post graduate students. Who's next? It can be either you or me. So wake up from the golden dream and fight for our cause or else it'll be too late.

The recent Australian Government's announcement of imposing fees ranging from A$1500 to A$2500 on overseas students, shows only too clearly that in times of economic crisis, overseas students can well be the scapegoat to bear the economic burden.

Therefore, I urge you all to continue to deplore the tactic of discrimination imposed by any government and stand as a united force to fight any discrimination.

A New Group on Campus?

As President of The Society for the Protection of the Innocent from the IRA, I must write to let the students of Victoria University know that the British Government is not the only external influence doing something about the serious situation in Northern Ireland.

What can a group of New Zealand citizens do to hinder the IRA? Without funds the IRA will not be able to buy guns, ammunition, explosives, or feed and hide members. Each year New Zealanders give $500,000 to the IRA. We hope to stop this flow of funds by exposing where this money is coming from as well as those IRA sympathisers in New Zealand. We are of course working in close colusion with the Special Branch of the New Zealand Police. However we are not too happy with their handling of the situation as it stands. Not only is the Minister of Police a Roman Catholic, but so is 40% of his department. Don't forget that the Catholic Church is regarded as a greater loyalty, by its members, than the state and the law. Next time you give a donation to Liferight or in Church (Catholic) on Sunday make sure your money is being used for peaceful purposes and not to buy some 232 ammunition for an M16.

For obvious reasons (I don't want to be shot in the knees or be tarred and feathered) I am withholding my name and address. Please do not release the original of this letter to anyone coming in off the street.

Love Springs Eternal

Every now and then something happens at this place which brings some fun into an otherwise drab environment. I am referring to the public letters being exchanged between two people who have obviously never met one another and which are available for public viewing on the first floor notice board by the lockers in the New Kirk Building. The girl calls herself Blondie (no relationship to Rod Stewart's friend) and the guy calls himself Andy — which he point out is a pseudonym.

I have followed their daily letter writing for about one month now and I really think they are getting serious with one another.

Good luck Blondie and Andy (you both sound like nice people) I hope you get together soon — and if you do please let the rest of us know how it turned out. You could even start a blind date scheme using the notice boards as intermediarys.

Digestion Problems

One thing I have learnt not to say in Uganda even in jest, is, "eat me" oh no! no! Aie-eeee...

Massof's Missed the Point

It is unfortunate that many people have been sufficiently pressurised by the media and pro-choice groups to assume recklessly that it is solely a woman's right to decide whether to have a child or not. This apparently is the trap that C. Massof has fallen into. Initially it is necessary to realise the gravity of the subject with which we are dealing. It is not merely a question of whether or not it would be convenient to carry through a pregnancy to term and the responsibilities which this brings. We must consider the sum total rights of a foetus to a life.

It disgusts me to see letters printed which undoubtedly show that the writer is no more aware of the subject than s/he is of the time of day.

For C. Massof assumes too much. She states:"Women should be allowed to make this decision themselves", but docs not say why Nowhere does she produce any measure of fact unless conjecture and fact have become confused.

Her brand of feminism means that to be a feminist one must agree with abortion — but the writer of Abortion Attacked has adequately shown that feminism can be tempered with a pro-life stance. This shows that abortion need not be a 'necessary condition' to allow women equal opportunities in 'this' society.

C. Massof would do well to study her subject more closely. I refer her to Abortion-by Baruck Brody. She may well be surprised at what he has to say on 'The Women's Right to her Body' (P.26) and his final stand on the subejct.

In conclusion, C. Massof has not said anything that is not at least sensible — it is just that she argues on the assumption and once more we question the necessity of abortion.

Twice

As the writer of the article printed in Salient Vol. 42, No. 20 entitled by Salient as 'Abortion Attacked', I would like to reply to criticisms of it printed in last week's issue. Firstly, I would like to reply to Caroline Massof's two criticisms. She claims that abortion would still be necessary in a society free from discrimination. She argues from the viewpoint that the burden of the child would be too much as it would necessitate one partner giving up his or her job.

I would like to suggest that with the 'adequate daycare facilities, socialised housework etc' that Caroline Massof mentions (and which I believe are an important part of a truly free and equal society), this would not be necessary at all. Her second criticism is that as some men support abortion as well as women, it can hardly be in order to punish the foetus for the abuses of men. This is true, but I would like to suggest that while some men support abortion because they genuinely believe it an essential ingredient in the liberation of women, many men support it for other reasons. I once read to a male acquaintance a newspaper account of a rape that resulted in pregnancy. At the end of it I questioned him — asking him if he ever felt any guilt for the crimes perpetrated by his own sex on women. He replied by saying that he felt that rape was naturally a 'bad thing', but that whether pregnancy resulted or not was 'irrelevant' because the victim could have an abortion! To him, his sense of guilt at the crime of another man was lessened by the fact that part of the victim's suffering could be alleviated by abortion.

Secondly I would like to reply to Kate Reed's criticism that my article carried no by-line. I in fact signed my article 'Member of Liferight' — thereby clearly indicating what organisation was representing but for some unknown reason Salient omitted this. I felt that signing my name was not relevant as I was writing not only on my own behalf but on behalf of Liferight and anyone who wanted to dispute my article personally could do so through the club.

With regard to your editorial comment, your support of Kate Reed's criticism rings completely false as you regularly publish articles with no by line including one in the very same issue in which mine appeared — namely, the article entitled Housing Problems in Malaysia.