Errors in Article on Brent Wong

May I be permitted to correct some typesetting errors that appeared in my review of Brent Wong's exhibition in your last issue.

Fallacious Arguments for New Argot

At the recent May Council of the NZUSA New Argot was successfully scrapped following a motion put forward by VUWSA, who had originally asked NZUSA to take over our Arts magazine then known simply as Argot. This decision represents a triumph for those who would sooner see a national students' political paper instead. This desire has been expressed several times in Salient this year by those with a political bias and was passed at SRC by the same interest group.

Is there a need for such centralisation? Already there are 7 regularly published student newspapers serving the various campuses with a predominantly political content. These different newspapers are readily available to all of us. The major political issues of concern are dealt with in each paper, which also provides information on the local activities on and around each campus. These seems to be no justification in duplicating this effect, content and expense.

In contrast these newspapers lack any substantial content on the Arts (Salient being the worst example with less than 5% of the total subject matter so far this year concerned with art of literature), such void being successfully filled by New Argot.

New Argot lost $700 on its first issue this year. It had lost money last year and altogether the money owed by the Students Arts Council to NZUSA is in the vicinity of $15,000. New Argot asked for $6,000 at the May Council meeting to get the magazine securely based and established. Despite the fact that the second issue this year made a small profit, it was felt that it was better to finish it.

It is being optimistic to think that a national political paper is going to require any less money. The enthusiasm to advertise may well be less in such a paper than it was in New Argot and certainly the capricious manner in which NZUSA handled the publication must have undermined potential advertisers confidence in a national newspaper. Of course, New Argot has required subsidies from students union fees, but don't all student newspapers? Is a national political paper going to be any different?

Secondly, it has been suggested that New Argot 'is more interested in the small public readership than its captive student audience' (Salient No. 7, 1975). What conclusive evidence is there to support this? I have never seen a copy of New Argot for sale in any of the Wellington bookshops I frequently visit and contend that the number of New Argots left untouched on the campus is similar to the number of past Salients. I also suggest that the major reason a national political paper is being promoted is not to foster a 'national student identity... letting everyone know what is going on at the various campuses', but rather to present a united student front to the public at large which the various student papers have been unable to do and which is the very thing New Argot was criticised for.

There is also the important practical [unclear: qu] question of editorial policy. Whose is it to be? Alick Shaw's? NZUSA's? Members of the various universities? The very advantage of a nationa arts magazine is that it can present a composite picture of contemporary art in all its diverse forms in an attractive and informative way. Can a national political paper hope to achieve a similar result? By the time that it gets into print how many individual student's views can it be said to represent, and if it does represent the majority is there any point in telling us what we already know?

It would seem that the Universities in the 70s are doomed to be remembered as a sterile if not hostile environment for the development and fostering of the Arts in any of its forms, especially when they have terminated a publication which could fairly claim to have had a higher circulation than any other similar journal in the country.

The politicians who wield the power around our campuses have, in their ignorance, fallen into a fundamental error. Wherever politics and its accompanying struggles exist, there will be an art/ cultural framework in part supporting, explaining and intensifying it. Rather than suppressing or prescribing art, thought should be given by those predominantly politically interested, to treating the two as a dialectical and complimentary process, rather than one of mutual exclusion.

As yet there seems to be no valid reasons justifying the ending of New Argot or its replacement by a purely or heavily biased political paper.

(You make a number of interesting points. However you make these points well after both Kaye Turner and Bruce Kirkland went into print making substantially the same points. I intend to make a full reply to these points in a later article on the yet to be completed report on the details of a national student newspaper by VUWSA as was asked for at May Council.

However, I will take this opportunity to reply to some of your more fallacious arguments. You accuse Salient of having 'less than 5% of the total subject matter so far this year concerned with art or literature.' Since I have been editor Salient has averaged a minimum of 12.5% of its total content on arf and literature and a maximum of 18% if you count the series of book reviews on the CIA and the articles on Kerridge-Odeon. To compare this to New Argot we find that only 45% of its first issue was on the arts and literature. In sheer quantity Salient has far outdone New Argot this year. The void filled by New Argot was not one due to a lack of articles on art and literature but the lack of a certain type of articles.

The motion at SRC had nothing to do with the 'Salient interest group'. It was moved by the Cultural Affiars officer and seconded by a member of the Executive. The 'Salient group's' only contribution was an amendment asking that the formation of a national student newspaper he recommended to May Council.

You like too many others see the [unclear: demi] of New Argot solely as the result of actions of of a few politicos in Wellington. You ignore the fact that New Argot had been surrounded with controversy for some time; that even Arts Council recognised the need to change its format; that the last issue had only 20,000 copies printed (as opposed to 30-5,000 the issue before) because it was not being read and that a $6,000 loan on top of $15,000 loaned already to Arts Council might just be a bit much to ask of NZUSA.—Ed.)

Formation of NZMSEC no coincidence

Recently Canta printed a letter by Lau Chee Hee on NZMSEC. Mr Lau may be truly democratic and believes in justice being done. But he must realise that he is indirectly supporting the government as are a group of students at the University of Malaysia, calling themselves the National Executive Council.

Is it mere chance that both groups of people can strike on a similar name and carry out similar actions at a time when there was much student unrest and demonstrations in Malaysia itself? The Munec was formed around late July last year when there was great friction between anti-government students and pro-government students. The NZMSEC was formed before the August Conference on Malaysia on 30th and 31st.

Mr Lau makes it clear that the NEC's get inspiration from the High Commission because this unpatriotic body is on a chummy level with the latter. They should be reminded that they are climbing the wrong tree as student protests are directed at the government which is represented by the High Commission. The issues are clearly spelt out: Poverty, Malnutrition of the Poor; Foreign Ownership & Exploitation of our Country's Wealth; Government Corruption; Suppression of Democratic Rights; Political Repression.

Of course the NEC's argument is that Malaysians should fight for democratic rights. But where? They maintain that Malaysians must have democratic rights in NZ. But as to democratic rights in Malaysia, they are unwilling to do anything about it. So long as these priviledged people are left alone in NZ they will not complain about repression at home. What utter hypocrisy!! It is disgusting that this group of 'Malaysians' should act in such an obvious fashion to protect themselves by disassociation from the demonstrations.

They argue that they can now have 'meaningful' talk with the High Commissioner. 'Meaningful' for them, but not for the majority of Malaysians who have nothing to do with such despicable people. One student at the August Conference suggested that they should not go crawling to the High Commissioner every time they more or scratch themselves, to put it mildly.

Let us remember in time to come, that this group of people ate, drank and were merry while their countrymen suffered at home.

Support for Malaysia/Singapore Articles

May I take this opportunity to congratulate you and your friends for your hard work in publishing the special section of news on Malaysia and Singapore and 'Special Malaysia' in your newspaper.

Before I arrived in NZ early this year, I heard and read about squatters in Johore Bahru, retrenchment of workers in Singapore and demonstrations in Northern Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur, imprisonment of students and lecturers without trial under Internal Security Act of facist M'sian government etc... Your newspaper has helped me to understand the real situation in M'sia. i.e. The problems of the struggle between the Haves and Have Nots; foreign exploitation; and not the racial problem as always claimed by our so-called people leaders at home. The article on 'Universities and University Colleges Act' in your last issue of 'Malaysia Special' has done a very good job indeed in exposing how M'sian government suppress the academic freedom in the higher institutions of learning.

Finally don't forget that my friends, my people at home and I are behind you and are proud of what you have done for us. We hope you will keep on printing materials on M'sia and Singapore. Could you tell me about the publication on M'sia and Singapore. Have they printed their publication yet?

PS. I regret not supplying my name because of security reasons.

(The publication on Malaysia and Singapore is currently taking the form of 'Malaysian Special' in Salient, Means of publishing independently and in different forms are being considered.—Ed.)

Greens Whitewash

It is interesting to note that despite the length and emotional integrity of Pauline H. Green's defence of Zionism, nowhere in it does she even attempt to refute any of Israel Shahak's arguments. Rather she contents herself with dismissing anything which exposes the racism, which is inherent in Zionism, as being 'fashionable'.

Typically, Pauline H. Green presents Zionism as a progressive and enlightened force. Admittedly Zionism has contributed much to the development of an underdeveloped area but it cannot be denied that this has been at the expense of the Palestinians. Whereas Pauline H. Green considers the rights of the Zionists as being sacrosanct those of the Arabs are expendable. But then this typifies the attitude of colonialists towards the people of the land they have usurped. That Zionism is colonialism and territorial expansion and racism is amply deomostrated in the following exchange from an American TV programme 'Face the Nation'.

Sidney Grusen (of the New York Times): Is there any possible way that Israel could absorb the huge number of Arabs whose territory it has gained control of now?

Moshe Dyan (Israeli Defence Minister): Economically we can, but I think it is not in accord with our aims for the future. It would turn Israel into either a bi-national or a poly-Jewish-Arab state and we want to have a Jewish state. We can absorb them but it wouldn't be the same country. Grusen: Now is it necessary, in your opinion, to maintain this as a Jewish state and a purely Jewish state?

Dyan: Absolutely, absolutely, we want a Jewish state like the French want a French state.

(J. Gerassi (Ed.) Towards Revolution Vol. 1 p. 203)

A Letter From P. O. Box 3396

I am writing on behalf of the Shite Sports Coat and Pink Carnation Society. We are not to be confused with the White Sports Coat and Pink Carnation Society as is your correspondent Mr. W' (not to be confused with Mr. W), who foolishly quoted a WSCPLS statement as an example of the racist sentiments held by our own decent and respectable society.

I can assure you and your readers that we of the SSCPCS would never stoop to the low levels of the Wscpcs. The Wscpcs is an evil and sinister group whose very existence, I consider, is a sign of moral decay in NZ. All the values and institutions held dear by the average New Zealander—sobriety, culture, post-impressionist painting, dog trials, free thinking, spiffy dressing, etc.—are being denigrated and destroyed by this grotesque clique.

When I say these friends are the agents of the holocaust and bringers of cataclysmic floods, I do not jest.

I warn all of you at university, particularly middle class radicals born in Karori, that the Wscpcs aims to take over the university itself and transform it into a huge industrial complex designed to mass-produce twelve foot high multicoloured plaster gnomes whoch are programmed to sing in a falsetto voice Wscpcs party songs such as The Yellow Rose of Texas', 'Some Enchanted Evening', 'In The Chapel in the Moonlight', 'I Wonder Whose Kissing Her Now', and inevitably, that ridiculous Marty Robbins song from which their name is derived.

The finance for this extraordinary transition will be provided, I am told, by ITT, Efrem, Zimbalist Jr., Achtung (Allied Cleaning House, Technical Units, Northern Germany), The House Un-American Activities Commission, The Mint 400 Drug Conference and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

To combat this manace, I suggest all interested parties should unite behind the Sscpcs.

If you like going to Folk Festivals so that you can sing 'Taumaranui On the Main Trunk Line' in a nasal voice; if you think reading Karl Marx in German is 'good fun'; if you find revolutionary films about Puerto Rico 'absorbing'; if you think there might just be something in this Johnathan Livingstone Seagull thing; if you think NZ has a lot to learn form Chinese Society; if you say to your friends 'dope can be good fun, but, you know, I don't want big tits'; if you think Rod McKuen has made a significant contribution to contemporary poetry; if you have lots of Maori friends on the East Coast; if you think you perhaps should wear underarm deodorants but you don't because its reactionary; if you would like to go Oil a 'freedom bus ride' so that you could meet the 'real' people who live in places like Trkapo or Huntly—then we would like to hear from you via the columns of this paper.

'Christians' Headed for Judgement Day

Thank you for printing news about Malaysia and Singapore. This has kept me well informed about what is happening at home and also makes me very much aware of the nature of politics there.

As a member of MSA I am distressed that the leaders have been prepared to sit back and not protest about the political development at home. Only a few concerned individuals have protested about the recent laws passed in Malaysia concerning students. This is a very poor comment on how much Malaysians value their freedom.

While all this Vicious' repression goes on at home as one courageous person described it, our so-called Malaysian student leaders especially in the MSA seek solace in the thoughts of the lord. Are they concerned about things on earth? Are they concerned for the poor and the suffering at home?

We know they are well connected with the High Commission. Many of the present and former 'leaders' worry only for themselves including the so-called Christians led by the Rev. Oh. Because of this concern, it pays to be friendly with the High Commission. These people are continuously looking for ways out of their responsibilities to look after the political welfare of the members. A recent letter in most student papers on the NZMSEC (National Executive Council) described how popular this group of people are with the general membership.

The National Executive Council exactly describes the mentality of the people involved. They are the executive elite, the exclusive gentlemen club. In Malaysia, the UK and elsewhere, the 'Executive Councils' have been formed to counteract the popular feelings of the members that their elected representatives should have the courage to voice their disapproval of the Malaysian Government.

Last year we learnt whose side they are on. In Malaysia, UK, Australia and NZ this body came out to support the government and not the progressive movement of the students and people at home. In the UK and Kuala Lumpur they called for government suppression of progressive students. In NZ and Australia, they were deterred by the majority feeling of Malaysians so that they could only express their desire to disassociate themselves from all progressive politics.

In NZ we also learnt how unpopular they became when they did this without consulting MSA members. This happened all over NZ.

With this background, the MSAs around the country are still struggling for the NEC. These gentlemen have chosen to polarise the situation by taking a definite stand. This is good because the Malaysians who are for progress can identify, them.

Support for the NEC means support for the Government whatever the explanations of the MSA leaders in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Massey or Waikato, given to hide their real intentions. At a time when so many of our countrymen are imprisoned for their thoughts, and opposition to the Government, this is unforgiveable. Let them ponder this point and that as the struggle intensifies, so will their judgement day draw nearer.

Did Joey Pay His 50cents?

The White Sports Coat and Pink Carnation Society are a disgrace to humanity. In the last Salient they presented a dismal picture of our homosexual friends. May a thousand Bengali tigers discend upon them, well not exactly upon them, maybe around them, well not exactly around them, maybe stuffed koalas could descend, well not exactly stuffed koalas, but let it come to their attention, well not exactly their attention, but let them listen to what I am about to say to them.

You won't get away with it!! You don't think for one minute that we believe you when you say you will be conducting a public speaking course for naked kite-flyers, do you?

Well get you in the end when your jackets are old and your carnations are full of slug-holes and your elbows have grown weak from misuse.

Well, tell the folks back home I miss them very much and that I'll be out of here soon. My condition is coming up for review next week.

I must post this away before they analyse my letter as well. I'm sure if they saw it I wouldn't be out till Xmas.

A Letter on May Council which we forgot about

Salient 10's double-spread review of NZUSAs May Council was very good is no far as it provided fairly detailed coverage of the major topics debated there. Nevertheless, I must take issue with some of the views expressed, and correct some factual inaccuracies.

There is a degree of Victoria-centrism evident in your comments, a tendency which hardly helps to unify students on a practical and national basis. Your claim that at August Council last year 'Victoria introduced the novel policy of abstaining on major issues they had no policy on' is false in the sense that Waikato did just that in 1972 (and 75) and to some extent in 1974 and other campus delegates have occasionally done this in the past too. Secondly, the statement that 'Victoria is better 'than the rest on the question of campus democracy, while true in many respects, is more that misleading when it continues with the 'justification' that this is because 'our policy making body (SRC) is open to all students, to attend and vote, unlike other places.' I would observe that Waikato among 'other places' has regular General Meetings which, strange as it may seem in the 20th Century are 'open to all students to attend and vote.' Thirdly, the first paragraph in your Editorial quite ignores WUSAs Annual and Winter General Meetings, which are invariably fairly well-attended (100-200 students on average), very long (often 9-10 hours over 2 sittings), and marked by a high level of participation and debate. Also, we have had more quorate than in-quorate SGMs over the past few years, contrary to what you suggest.

Your editorial bears the stamp of cautious optimism about the future of NZUSA. I would suggest that this is unfounded in view of the current attitudes towards salaries and lifestyles by most National officers, the imminent purchase of an office block, the influential role of the company known as STB Ltd., the closeness of the formation of a National Union of Students (your criticisms about it being formed 'from the top and not the bottom' are sound), and the way in which National officers can readily influence constituents on important matters because of their much greater access to information (shades of the huge Australian Union of Students); all these point to the development of a professional, bureaucratic elite.

This trend away from the relatively democratic control of NZUSA is not irreversible, although it will probably get worse before it gets better. In this respect Victoria (and in a smaller way, Waikato) is setting a good example by trying to involve as many students as possible in decision-making, and then carrying them out.

If NZUSA should be democratised—and we both agree that students must struggle towards that end - and it will be helped along by the overall attitude of the present Victoria Executive, but not by a comment which you later admit to be based on a single arguable example, namely, that 'national officers did tend to be a bit harsh in their chairing' of commissions.

Finally, Waikato catering indeed has a long way to go. But, it is better than it used to be, and much of it is now student controlled. NZUSA, on the other hand, comes in a larger, glossier, more expensive wrapping than in the good old days. Improvements can come from the top - and there is a great deal of genuine concern for students among the NZUSA hierarchy—but they must also, and more importantly, come from the bottom, and student newspapers have a great responsibility in this area. With some minor improvements in factual accuracy, political analysis, and practical layout, Salient could once more become the best student newspaper in New Zealand.

XYZ Gets a Reply

It was rather interesting to read the letter written by XYZ in June 4 issue of Salient.

In my opinion the writer was looking M'sia situations from racial point of view. It is very dangerous because the problems that we are facing at home is a problem of class struggle—the struggle between the poor peasants and workers and the foreign and the local big capitalists (esp. the ruling elite). If we look at the problem from racial points of view, we will fall into the trap of the M'sian Government which is to divide the people and rule. Perhaps some articles in 'Malaysia Special' in Salient will provide the evidence.

A few people, whom I have spoken about the students' demonstrations late last year, felt that the Malay students took part in the demonstrations because the people in Baling are Malays. I hope following facts can clear the doubt whether the students demonstrated in Kuala Lumpur because of their race or supporting the poor,

'History speaks for us' whether the problem in Malaysia is a problem of class struggle or racial struggle.

Comparing Cliques

Referring back to the letter written by 'XYZ' in June 4 issue of Salient. The writer asked, 'The way events are shaping up, would it suprise you to place Razak's clique in a position comparable to Vietnam's Thieu and Cambodia's Lon Nol?'

I fully agree with him because more than 60% of our country's economy is in the hands of foreign imperialists. To get rid of these foreign imperialists and their puppets is our main task. Perhaps we can learn the lesson from the Cambodian and Vietnamese peoples by forming a United Front (eg. the United Armed chair People Revolutionary Government of Malaysia) like the National United Front of Cambodia or the Provincial Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam. We unite all the people that we can unite—eg. radical Muslim, radical Christians, Nationalists like Robert Pui, oppressed people of all races, socialists, etc...

"Know your enemy
know your friends
one hundred battles
one hundred victories'

Vietnam and Cambodia might be too big for Thieu and Lon Nol. Saigon's Thieu and Penh's Lon Nol will be ok for them. They don't deserve it by now. The former Saigon Ambassador to NZ was granted political asylum automatically after the fall of Saigon. I suppose the Kuala Lumpur Ambassador to NZ should be granted the same thing in case Kuala Lumpur is going to be liberated by the United Armed chair People Revolutionary of Malaysia tomorrow. And who knows the members (about 3,000 of them in NZ) of the United Armed chair Revolutionary Government of Malaysia might cause hardship to them in NZ.

Say Nothing, Do Nothing, Think Nothing

I am disgusted to read MSA supporters of Jack defend themselves over the undemocratic and facist NZMSEC when there is so much wrongdoing by the home government.

The NZMSEC has failed Malaysian students again in ignoring and avoiding comment on any of the developments at home. It chooses to avoid all these more urgent events to debate on its miserable existence and its pretensions of upholding the ideals of democracy.

The MSAs all round NZ hope to ride out the storm of social unrest at home quietly as 'say nothings and do nothings'. They might as well 'think nothing' if they are prepared to retreat into the safety of their insipid selfish comforts here in NZ. After Muldoon they are the most unpopular people in NZ in the minds of Malaysians.

Another thing adding to this unpopularity has been their keenness to talk shop with the High Commission as if their fundamental freedoms can be guaranteed this way. They should realise that they do not have this anymore except the freedom to exist as unthinking bodies, servile and kowtowing to authority

There is not one occasion in recent months when they have condemned the government about the repression in Malaysia. Leadership has no meaning for them. The best thing they can do before they sink further into further disrepute is to resign.

Trial Bike Riders Banned

Trail bike riders are prohibited from riding their machines along the path around the Union Building and down the steps at the side of the building near the Cemetery.

About the Malaysian-s' Pore Publication

Some of you have asked when the Malaysia/ Singapore Publication will be published.

Please note that 3 issues have been published so far as supplements in Salient. Your funds are being used to subsidise this. Short news items have also been regularly printed in the same paper.

The response from readers by way of criticisms, articles, pictures and funds have been slow. Up to date $182 have been received from all centres,

While we are able to print the news, we are not able to send it to you as not many of you who have contributed funds have included your forwarding addresses. Therefore to ensure that you get your copy of the news you ought to supply a forwarding address. Each flat or individual could contribute a lump sum when you have the money and in return copies will be sent if you indicate the number wanted (5 copies for each flat). As yet no definite sum has been fixed to charge subscribers because finance limits us from bringing out an independent publication. The paper is yours and you should therefore make an effort to make it a success.

The following quotation from a printer will give you an idea of the problems we face:

A regular bi-monthly paper, say 5000 8 page news would be $176. This would be an ideal size publication to start with, covering current events, opinions and serialised articles. The budget for 26 issues can be worked out from the given figure.

If you want a regular Malaysian/Singapore newspaper, then you can make it possible by following the above suggestions.