Women concerned about racial discrimination

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32967, 13 July 1972, Page 7

Women concerned about racial discrimination

(Pi.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 12. A group of women concerned about apartheid, and about racial discrimination in New Zealand, met the Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) yesterday morning to put forward proposals to deal with the question. Led by Dr Patricia Burns and the Rev. Margaret Reid, the deputation arose from a meeting in Wellington last month sponsored by the Wellington District Methodist Synod, the National Youth Council, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, the Catholic Peace Fellowship, the New

Zealand University Students’ Association, and the Young Christian Workers.

After the meeting. Dr Burns said that they had put proposals for scholarships for black Africans for training towards leadership. They also sought assistance for fulltime or part-time paid staff for the Race Relations Council for research and investigation into racial problems in New Zealand, and for education in this field. Dr Bums said that while Mr Marshall could not give assurances, he had undertaken to examine the question of scholarships.

On race relations in New Zealand, he felt that the action taken in appointing a conciliator was appropriate, but agreed to discuss the

question of the council with the Minister of Maori Affairs (Mr Maclntyre). Miss Reid said that Mr Marshall had expressed surprise at some of the assessments on the racial situation in New Zealand made by the deputation. There was a greater degree of white racism in New Zealand than came t o shrafuetce cmfwyp came to the surface, Miss Reid said, but Mr Marshall considered that the great majority of people in New Zealand favoured racial equality. The question of the Springbok Rugby tour was also raised. The deputation was not as sanguine as Mr Marshall on the possibility of a South African team being selected on merit, regardless of race, Dr Burns said.