Professor Sinclair, of the History department of the University of Auckland. He was opposed to the Government's action in sending troops to Vietnam.—Chris Black photo.

Salient Reporter

A Minor controversy developed at the Vietnam teach-in when a Sunday newspaper suggested a cabinet minister had tried to influence speakers at the teach-in.

On the morning of the teach-in a story in the Sunday News told how Professor Sinclair of Auckland University, had been telephoned by Mr. Shand and asked what he intended speaking about.

A few hours later Mr. Shand was interviewed by a Salient reporter.

Mr. Shand said he had rung about a dozen people to find out what they intended speaking about at the teach-in. His purpose in doing this was to offer them any information or Government documents they may want.

No Aunt Sally

Mr. Shand said that he had rung Prof. Sinclair to find out whether he thought the teach-in would be representative of all groups interested in the Vietnam situation. He explained that he did not want to be an Aunt Sally for a minority of people opposed to the Government's policy on Vietnam. He hoped all viewpoints would be represented at the teach-in.

Mr. Shand said he had also asked Prof. Sinclair what he intended speaking about. "I did not know what his policy was on Vietnam," he said.

More Details

After Mr. Shand's speech at the teach-in he was asked by a student questioner which speakers he had contacted before the teach-in. Mr. Shand named about half a dozen speakers. He also told the audience that he had tried without success to persuade the United States Embassy and UK High Commission to provide speakers.

Mr. Shand claimed he had the approval of the student organisers in approaching prospective speakers. One of the student organisers later told Salient that he "expressed gratitude" at Mr. Shand trying to get in the United States Embassy, but denied having agreed to other speakers being approached.

Not A Dozen

After the teach-in Mr. Shand told this reporter he had not contacted a dozen people as was stated earlier in this story. He claimed that he had only said "about half a dozen" when interviewed earlier.

When the reporter insisted that Mr. Shand had said "about a dozen," Mr. Shand said it couldn't have been a dozen because he couldn't think of more than half a dozen people he could have rung.

At the same time, Mr. Shand offered a further explanation for his approaches to speakers, "I wanted to know which of the listed subjects (provided by the student organisers) had been selected by other speakers." he said.