Letters to the Editor

Childhood violence

FROM HIS childhood recollections, Grant Smithies ( Sunday Star-Times, July 13) deserves some sympathy as the son of a savage brute and, presumably, so does his mother.

Whanganui in the 1960s must have been a civic torture chamber. He errs in believing that his father’s thuggery would be excused under the old Section 59 of The Crimes Act 1961. Nothing he states could be considered ‘‘reasonable force’’ nor, given the circumstances, be deemed acceptable correction of misdemeanours. Those of us who believe that the moderate use of an open hand on the buttocks (smacking) to correct a child’s misbehaviour may be the most appropriate method in some circumstances, abhor the type of violence which Smithies describes. The two are light years apart.

Few humans are born with self-control. It must be acquired, often with external assistance. We need to learn right from wrong and goodness from evil, otherwise anarchy reigns.

It is a pity that Smithies uses his misery to launch an attack on Colin Craig, a decent New Zealander if ever there was one. In doing so he revisits the nonsense claims made against Craig by many of the media airheads, letting his rant trump objective truth. I SALUTE Grant Smithies for his brave and unambiguous article on the reality of child abuse in New Zealand. I thank him too, for reminding us of the dark side of Colin Craig and his Conservative Party. It is shameful that a party would seek public office with a manifesto promoting violence against children.

I wonder too, what fear lies in the soul of a father who speaks pridefully of hitting his own and others’ children? A vote for such a man and/or his party is a vote in support of family violence. John Key chills us by even suggesting he might seek the support of a man with such ugly and destructive beliefs. we can’’ (Drugs tested on mentally disabled, July 13).

If we are needing to test any drug on a child or adult who is disabled and therefore cannot give informed consent we should not be doing it period. Occasionally these trials have disastrous unexpected effects on the recipients, the mentally disabled are unlikely to make a fuss. Yes the responsible other parent or guardian may give consent but is the balance of power between the medical team who is asking for consent and that person equal? The issue of informed consent for patients crashed into the public arena with the ‘‘Unfortunate experiment’’ and the Cartwright inquiry gave birth to the Health and Disability commissioner and the ethics committee. I hope the ethics committees has not lost its way. Always remember drug companies are not there for altruistic reasons, it is all about the money.