A Ridiculous Idea

Sir,—Congratulations to Mr Phipps for the fine piece of old-world melodrama published in Salient 6! Such cloak-and-dagger intrigues are worthy of our man in Havana.

Mr Phipps is a master of the well-known techniques of generalisation and hyperbole. He takes last year's "No Maoris—No Tour" march and the "Ban the Bomb" march over the Rimutakas, and comes to the conclusion that we make "a hobby and a habit" of such pastimes. The Rugby march was initiated and supported for the most part by students; the Wellington public looked up briefly from its beer-mug and had a giggle at the "show-offs." The Rimutaka march had such a small following as to be ridiculous. When we remember this, we must draw the inference from Mr Phipps's article that if this is the best the Ministry for Advancement of World Domination can do, then we have nothing to worry about.

I am assuming, of course, that Mr Phipps does not intend his article to be taken seriously. This is based on his fears that New Zealanders will one day "race protesting in the streets." The mere thought of our countrymen getting off their fat, State-fed backsides to march in their thousands, or to storm the Embassies, is just too ridiculous for words, and can only produce a hysterical shriek of disbelief.