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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol 35 no. 17. 19th July 1972

Trying of New Caps

Trying of New Caps

Sir,

Mr. Fyson's open letter to Messrs Shaw and Law is unquestionably well typed and stapled but spoils the ship for a ha'penny worth of tar by erring on a point of fact. The "big red boot stamping on a rat which had SAL on it....." was drawn by me and intended no smear, stain or insult to the Socialist Action League. In actual fact the animal under the Red boot of the New Zealand working class is a field mouse as in "wee tim'rous couwrin' sleekit beastie" which expressed consternation when its nest was destroyed by the plough of the late Robert Burns, as do the ruling classes of all societies at the destruction of their property.

The SAL on the mouse stands for Stop All Liberalism, while the fallen placard is included to symbolise the futility of nonviolent banner-waving demonstrations. The masses, (being the real heroes, while we ourselves are often foolish and ignorant) have taken the cartoon in its true light. — Look around this university and you will see many a mouse nest standing. However Mr. Fyson appears to have tried the cap and found it a perfect fit, even over the rusty ice pick.

I am only a common working man sir, and unused to the ways of intellectual paranoia, but I cannot remain silent in the face of neo bourgeoise mystefication

Don Franks