‘Anti-Pom’ incidents worry Race Council

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33477, 7 March 1974, Page 1

‘Anti-Pom’ incidents worry Race Council

'A nr Zealand Press Association I AUCKLAND. March (>. Anti-British feeling was growing, and va* causing lhe Race Relations Council grave concern, the councils executive officer (Dr P. Sharpies) said in Auckland todav.

He saw more danger of trouble springing from “pakeha-Pom” conflict than from Maori-pakeha relations.

He was disturbed that an elderly woman had reported to the office that a man had spat at het and called her a “dirty Pom" on recognising her English accent while she talked to her grandson when window-shopping in Auckland. Dr Sharpies said an Auckland radio “talk-back” programme had done a lot to bring out anti-English feeling. Threats of violence against an announcer were an example of how such a situation could lead to trouble. [Anti-English statements had j spread to other radio sta-. Hions and even to television. [ • l Car stickers ' Other examples included I car stickers, a sign in a Queen Street lift, and a sweat-shirt. all carrying slogans directed against’ English people. Dr Sharpies said New I Zealanders in general did not realise how serious the situation was. Even if it was checked, the open use of racial labels set a dangerous precedent for other ethnic groups and ; future race relations. Racial abuse led to prejudice, which bred discrimination. Incidents such as spitting would have to stop. A senior high school pupil[ had reported that it was the i “in thing” at her school to be down on “Poms,” Dr Sharpies said. The race relations office: had been flooded with complaints, particularly of insults | and abuse. Many were about [ non-verbal, contemptuous I

■action on the recognition of [accent. '■‘People hurt’’ Dr Sharpies said some incidents were frivolous, but others were offensive. People were being deeply hurt. Insults to English immi-

I grants and residents usually [fell into the section of the Race Relations Act dealing with incitement to racial disharmony. which was a criminal offence and under the direct jurisdiction of lhe ipolice. But the police generally refused to act on the ground that the incidents were frivol ous. even in cases Dr Sharpies regarded as deeply offensive. Dr Sharpies said the office would make submissions in its annual report asking that this section be put under the jurisdiction of the Race Relations Conciliator. so that some attempt could be made at conciliation before cases were referred to the police, if necessary. He said he had no objec-

tion to people calling for a check on English immigia tion because of housing ditti culties in New Zealand — but that was no reason for taking it out on immigrants who had come here within the law and often were residents of many years stand ing. “I nd<Tstan<lable" Sociologically. it was understandable that this sort ol feeling should crop up when New Zealanders were trying to establish theit own identity and image, and ties with Britain were being cut. But complaints indicated it was spreading rapidly and dangerously. Many- New Zealanders did not even recognise it as racism. Dr Sharpies said.