Racist-files claim

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34156, 18 May 1976, Page 1

Racist-files claim

(N.Z Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 17. A Labour Department employment officer in Auckland has been transferred to a “filing clerk” job after making accusations that racist requests from employers, including, “No Maoris,” were recorded on department files. Mr Oliver Robb, who has spent two weeks as a special relief clerk at the Victoria Street branch of the employment service, today lodged an official complaint with the

Race Relations Conciliator about the “racial bias.” The Labour Department ; regional superintendent (Mr [ C. Roberts) said ■he wanted to see the accusations in ' writing before he commented. He refused to say whether 1 Mr Robb had been trans- ; ferred, saying it was a per- . sonal matter. ( Among the employers , alleged by Mr Robb to have 1 had “racial” riders to their vacancies, was the Auckland „ Regional Authority, which, I in seeking bus drivers, added, j “But no Samoans; they are - temperamentally unsuitable." 1 Mr Robb said the requests e were made by telephone.

The files were “full” of comments like, “No Polynesians,” “Send no blacks,” and “No Samoans,” he said. Commenting on the accusations against the regional authority, its general manager (Mr J. F. Y. Schischka) said no instructions from the management had been issued on these lines. As they were telephoned in they might have come from a disgruntled person, not connected with the authority. Mr Robb said he had declined the job to which he was transferred. Another employment service worker, Ms Heather Forbes, this afternoon supported Mr Robb’s accusations