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Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University of Wellington Students Assn. Volume 40, No. 16. July 11 1977

[Letter from J. Doorey and J. Robb to Salient Vol. 40 No. 16 July 11 1977]

Dear Editor,

The VUW Young Socialist, held a seminar at Victoria on July 2. The seminar, entitled "Maoism and Trotskyism", was an attempt to look in detail at the political reasons that underly the anti-trot hysteria in Salient, and elsewhere among the folowers of Chairman Mao's thought.

The seminar was planned from the first to be an open and fair debate.' But on the day not one supporter of Maoism turned up. Nevertheless, the response was very encouraging. About thirty people attended, and the discussion was generally lovely.

The Young Socialists plan to repeat the topics that were discussed at the seminar, during lunchtimes when it is easier for studets to attend. The next one will be on Thursday July 14 on China Today: the Purge of the 'Gang of Four'; following that will be on July 19 the topic being Maoism and Women's Liberation, and on July 26 we will present Maoism and Democratic Rights.

This letter then is in the nature of a challenge: a challenge to those who support the policies of Maoism. We believe that they should be prepared to debate the issues that are of concern to many students. But the Maoists including David Murray, Lindy Cassidy. Leonie Morris and Bruce Robinson, refused to take part in the seminar. We are presenting them with another another opportunity to present their point of view a view. After all this year they have mounted a steady campaign against the trots particularly in Salient. It is their responsibility to come out and explain openly their reasons for such a campaig. If [unclear: then] do not the Maoists are admitting that the only sort of discussion that they want is one overwhelmingly weighted in their favour.

The Young Socialists would encourage anyone who is interested in this discussion to get in touch with, members of the Young Socialists.

Yours faithfully,

J. Doorey

and

J. Robb.

ORBITING EARTHMEN ARE REAL!