Human Rights Commission

Press, 1 April 1980, Page 16

Human Rights Commission

Sir, — Is .it not time we called a halt to this nonsense? Surely an employer is entitled to decide which sex he, sorry, it wants to hire? Provided the employer does not tell the rejected applicants they have been denied the job because they are of

the wrong sex,. then no offence* is committed, The saddest. commentaiy on this whole sorry affair Is that it is an offence to advertise for a Christian, but perfectly in order to advertise for a homosexual flatmate. (“The Press” — to let column, March 28.) — Yours, etc., G. K. FRIEND* March 28, 1980. . /•. Sir, — I wish Jo record my full support for the stand Mr Sides has taken over his quest for the right staff* It is inconceivable that Mrs Robinson has made such a big thing out of a natural job application. If I cannot spell very well I would be rather silly to apply for a clerk’s job or if I could not type I would be daft to seek a typist’s job. It has nothing to do _ with human rights but is simply a matter of preference. Anyone who has worked in an office knows how-import-ant it is for production competence that the staff comparability be at a maximum* And if he wishes to have a Christian staff that is entirely his business. — Yours, etc.,

GERALDINE MERCER. March 28, 1980.

Sir, — The ruling that there is “no religious significance attached to filling petrol tanks” warrants further thought. Ritual killing by Muslim slaughtermen has religious significance because for a devout Muslim all human activities have.Orthodox Jews, traditional Maori, devout Christians, and apparently Maoists would agree. Christians are commanded to “Do ail things to the glory of God,” the whole of life then being lived and enjoyed in His fellowship. For a Christian this is not so much a matter of ritual as of applying principles, e.g. animal slaughter should be as humane and hygienic as possible. The religious framework of any society may seem petty, restrictive, and a burden, but break it down and the whole round of life — work, play, birth, death, marriage and family — loses meaning* The downward steps read: “No religious significance” in the thing. No significance in it No thing; — Yours, etc., ’ E* READ, March 30, 1980;