Well The NUS is not totally dead

[Captain Kong]

Hi John
when I had to attend the Inquest and then the Court of Inquiry on the sinking of the POOL FISHER, I asked MNAOA for legal assistance, I had to give evidence both times as I was the only witness. I did not want to incriminate myself by saying the wrong thing so I needed Legal advice. None turned up at either Courts. Never heard anything from them.
.
Then I had a case of when ESSO said they had overpaid me by £1,500 on my monthly Pension, and wanted me to send them a cheque for that amount. I asked the Legal Department of then Numast for help and advice. `Sorry cannot help ` was their reply, the same as Paddy McGrath in Liverpool,` Me hands are tied`.
I had to do my own negotiations, and eventually got it down to £750,
So have never been too happy with them.
Cheers
Brian.

[j.sabourn]

Its a funny thing this legal system, the only thing I was mainly worried about at an enquiry or the main thing I should say, was untrue print outs by the press. As I have said on here before this internet is the best thing regarding such since sliced bread. Before the press ran the roost with no right of reply unless you were willing to put a big outlay of money on the table. Now I for one claim the same as the Press does and claim freedom of speech if necessary to inform others when necessary of the slipshod and outrageous statements that have been made in the past and present and in the future of their misinterpretation of what they consider news. Take for example the recent picking up of Indian citizens trying to get illegal entry into Australia. The ABC and certain sections of the media screamed that they couldnt be returned to Sri Lanka as they would be persecuted. They were not from Sri Lanka in the first place. Now they have been landed ashore in Australia but not allowed permission to stay, you have the same press screaming that they were picked up outside Australian waters and deserve special treatment and whch the lawyers are going to play up to the general public with. I think it is about time common sense stood up and said its piece. They mostly are illegal entrants to Australia and should after interview be returned to their port of departure the same as any airline passenger. The Law is an Ass is a well known saying and those who try and misuse it are bigger asses, and there are many around. We live in a country and part of the world where we do to a certain degree have freedom of speech, the ordinary people should always realize this and make use of whenever to the good of the people. This hiding behind certain statements about certain bodies of people of different beliefs is a disaster when some bright spark brought out and has only inflamed people and making them think they are slowly losing their right of expression, which is happening, already Jews are being attacked in Germany, remind you of any similar occurences say 80 years ago. History has a way of repeating itself, especially when people cant express their true feelings. CHeers John S.