Just a few words I feel are necessary to rectify a totally misleading statement made by you in the issue of Salient, June 12.

You quote my saying: "As a Maori first and a postgraduate student of English second, I say that this (by her) is the greatest poem in the English language."

My dear Roger, you must be deaf.

I distinctly remember making this statement in reference to Hone Tuwhare's "The Old Place" Cassette tape recordings since replayed have confirmed this, as have the many other people there.

You haven't exactly kicked me in the heart, dear boy, but like yourself I resent being misquoted, particularly in reference to something immensely Important...like Hone's poetry. And I am the first person to realise and admit to the inadequacies of my own...which is why I have not yet published any. And probably never will.

If you must shovel shit, check your facts first please. After all, isn't that an understood prerequisite of "good journalism"?

Although this letter is a late piece of feedback, as I rarely if ever read student crap-sheets these days. I do hope you'll admit to your misapprehension; and I'll quite happily concede that the place got the better of your hearing. Or something like that.