Narrative misses point

It’s a missed opportunity for Eda Tang, writing of the sad murder of Joe Kum Yung, in attempting to backfill the tragedy with a political narrative (

May 26). It could have been a good article, but was ruined by her demonisation of what she refers to as shooter Lionel Terry’s ‘‘rightwing’’ politics. Insanity has neither right nor leftwings, it only has loose wings.

In fact Terry formulated his antiAsian views whileworking as a labour union secretary in Canada. In New Zealand anti-Chinese sentiment was also rife among unions. The racism so inculcated their political wing it was still spouting awful racial prejudices 15

(May 26). The BBC explained it was a ‘‘mistake'', a ‘‘training exercise'' and apologised to United fans. I believe it was nomistake – I suspect the author of this message was, like me, a very disgruntled Man Utd fan stating the patently obvious, that this football season ‘‘we were rubbish''. Sigh.

Tony Birtwistle, Newlands

I think the time is overdue for a

years after Joe’smurder, on exactly the same lines as Terry’s: ‘‘In view of the alarming influx of Asiatics and other classes of cheap labour, involving, as itmust, the lowering of the living standard of our people, as well as the probable deterioration in the physical standard of all races mixing indiscriminately, we ask that steps be immediately taken to dealwith movement to begin – SUFA, save us from Auckland. Every day we learn of new initiatives funded in Auckland, at the expense of development in the regions. Much of our infrastructure is being ‘‘centralised'' in that city. There is no doubt Auckland has successfully traded on the mantra of ‘‘our biggest city'' but the time has come to SUFA. Unless this movement is successful, New Zealand will become a single city and a few inconsequential villages. Is that what we as a nation really want?

Geoffrey Horne, Roseneath

thismenace.’’ April 1920.

Thosewords, to be found in a PhD thesis by Philip Ferguson, The Making of the White New Zealand Policy, are attributed to a telegram by, among others, M.J. Savage, whose smiling portrait is beamed to our homes from the office of big fan and PrimeMinister Jacinda Ardern. Right-wing much?

Ian Billing, Seatoun

Heard Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern being interviewed in the US this week. How is it she now doesn't sound like she's talking to children or the imbecilic? What does that say about what she thinks about New Zealanders?

Bernard Jennings, Island Bay

My sincere thanks for the positive article on the Mongrel Mob drug-rehab programme and its success (May 25). So much for the naysayers who were so very critical of the Government's decision to allocate $2.75 million to the programme over three years. Lovely to hear the positive news for a change.

Janice Campbell, Karori

No wonder the police can't make headway in the fight against gangs and guns when minister PotoWilliams talks about police operations having to ‘‘work to break supply chains . . .'' What nonsense. Instruct the police to enforce the laws, to protect society and stop the silly corporate speak!

JohnWaymouth, Taupō