24 MARCH 1961, Page 17

WITHIN THE FAMILY?

SIR,—To compare Australia's colour policy with Ver- woerd's, and to call it 'ruthless in the same way, is to lie.

We do keep coloured people out of the country, but we do not shoot, or beat, or enslave them.

I realise that you have not stated explicitly that we do any of these things; but your infamous inference is clear.

What of the large numbers of Asian students we bring to Australia each year under the Colombo Plan for education and training as the technical and professional leaders of their own countries?—Yours faithfully,