Human Rights Commission

Press, 2 April 1980, Page 24

Human Rights Commission

Sir, — The human rights legislation must be given top marks for stupidity. After listening to over-vocal faddists of the 19705, the Government foolishly tried to alter people’s basic attitudes on sex and religion by acts of Parliament. It is now seen to be penalising those'in the community — a steadily and fast growing number — who are trying to restore some standards, and allowing all sorts of ultra-permis-siveness. For example, 1 a farmer may not legally advertise for a married couple but must choose any two “persons” to cohabit in the residence he supplies,, or face a charge of sex discrimination in choosing employees. There are any number of similar ridiculous situations, as Mr Downey admits. I do not agree with Mr Sides’s particular brand of religion but give him every encouragement in his fight against liberalist tyranny. — Yours, etc., V. F. WILKINSON. March 29, 1980.

Sir, — If Mrs Robinson wants to maintain (March 29) that a person’s religious; beliefs are his own business’ and nothing tb,.do with any-, one else, ■ then to be consistent she‘. must 1 allow that Mr -Sides or any other Christian businessman has the rij.ht to stipulate a preference for Chris,tian employees if they so desire. To do otherwise is to interfere with someone else’s religious beliefs. — Yours, etc., L. E. BROWN. March 29, 198 C.

Sir, — In my opinion an employer who is responsible for the wages he pays should have the complete right, without any interference from whatever source, to choose the employee of the type and ability he desires. This includes age, sex or whatever the employer feels is best suited to the job to be done. In the case of Mr Sides I can only hope that'the time is not too distant when th e people will realise that oyerGovemment is dead -weight and, in the eagerness to cast aside the shackles of bureaucracy, the Human Rights Commission will be among the first to go. — Yours, Pte . W. H. DALY.

March 29, 1980. Sir, — It is often difficult to understand the religious beliefs of other people but I fi-.d it incredible that in job opportunities Mr Eric Sides considers it is his right to discriminate against those who have fallen from grace or are even unbelievers rather than make his life less comfortable by attempting to convert people or bring them back to Christianity. — Yours, etc., ROSIE WITTY. March 28, 1980.