Sirs,—On Tuesday, May 26. I raised in forum the veracity of the public opinion poll on the commitment of New Zealand troops in Vietnam which Mr. Boshier informed the public meeting of May 14 had been carried out by him A report that the survey was bogus had been circulating quite widely in both student and political circles. This report was bringing both Mr. Boshier's academic integrity and the standing of social research at this University into question.

Although I still have some grave reservations on the committee on Vietnam, which I intend to raise separately at forum, I accept unreservedly Mr. Boshier's reply that a survey of a fairly representative sample of Wellington telephone subscribers was in fact made.

I have, since forum, discussed the matter for the first time with Mr. P. V. O'Brien, who had issued a separate statement. He assures me that he had only heard a report that the survey was bogus which he considered merited investigation. I would hope that both this letter and Mr. Boshier's spirited and informative reply to my accusations will serve to quelch this rumour and that debate can now focus on the real issues of the Vietnam dispute, and the alternative policy choices available to the New Zealand Government in this matter.

May I, in conclusion, challenge those students who still inform forum that I am "paid by Brigadier Gilbert" to make public the basis of their charges in a like manner, before forum.

David Butler.