Discrimination denied

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34106, 19 March 1976, Page 1

Discrimination denied

Z. Press Association/ TAUMARUNUI, March 18. No racial discrimination exists at Ruapehu College, Ohakune, according to the Race Relations Conciliator (Mr H. D. B. Dansey, of Auckland). At Taumarunui today, Mr Dansey was on his way back to Auckland after being invited by the board of governors of Ruapehu College to be associated with the consuli tative committee appointed Iby the Minister of Education '(Mr Gandar) to investigate

allegations made against the college.

“While I worked with the committee, my specific role was to inquire into allegations that had been made regarding racial discrimination,” said Mr Dansey. “The committee, under the chairmanship of Mr B. Wakelin, of Nelson, a relieving inspector, investigated all aspects of the school’s administration, of relationships of the school and the community, and of the connection between the pupils, the staff, and the board of governors.

“The committee will be making its report to the Minister through the DirectorGeneral of Education, but my

inquiries showed there is no: racial discrimination at the ;; school,” said Mr Dansey. !; “I would, however, qualify;; that by saying that I found}] some evidence of prejudice, a|. certain inflexibility of atti-i tude, intolerance, and stereo-!; typed views about Maoris on]’ the part of a minority of’ people. “Such views were held i, more by people in common than by members of the school staff. 1 did fin'd some members of the staff had a great deal to learn about ' Maori life and aspirations.”

A very important question he had had to ask himself ! was how he would definei i racial discrimination.

He said he took the view that he would examine each allegation of racial discrimi-! [nation as if it were a com-: [plaint laid under the Race; [Relations Act. He would ask [himself what would he do; |as Race Relations Conciliator] jif this had come before him.! Having decided this, he 'then had had the provisions |of the act to guide him. By this standard every allegation of racial discrimination: that he investigated fell down completely because people making such allegations could not supply him

with enough firm evidence that would have entitled him to conduct investigations in terms of racial discrimination.