AIM TO WORK OUT OF JOB

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32977, 25 July 1972, Page 3

AIM TO WORK OUT OF JOB

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 24. Although his appointment is less than three weeks old, the executive officer of the Race Relations Office in Auckland (Mr P. Sharpies), has been able to effect conciliation in two cases where racial discrimination was alleged. In the last fortnight six cases have been brought to the attention of Mr Sharpies, including the two in which agreement has been reached, without recourse

to the legal remedies provided for in the act. All cases concerned allegations of racial discrimination in accommodation.

Mr Sharpies works under the Race Relations Conciliator (Sir Guy Powles), whose office is in Wellington, and the Deputy Race Relations Officer (Mr K. Mason, S.M., of Auckland). The procedure he has

adopted is to hear a complaint, to make full notes of it, to write to the person or persons complained about and to Inform them that an investigation will be held. Then discussions are held with that person and an attempt made to effect a conciliation. Where no conciliation is possible without sterner measures, a case would be referred to the AttorneyGeneral. Mr Sharpies said today that a number of complaints referred to him were outside the scope of his office. These had been referred on to the police, or welfare authorities, or the Ombudsman. “Our whole aim is to effect conciliation,” he said. “The ultimate aim is to do ourself out of a job — which will be when no-one has any racial discrimination to complain about.”