Candidates reply

Press, 26 November 1981, Page 10

Candidates reply

In the survey of Parliamentary candidates titled “Do Women Count?”, in Wednesday’s Home and People page the replies from Social Credit’s Peter Admore were mistakenly added to those of National’s Colin McNicholl.

“The Press” regrets this error and reprints the questions and replies from both candidates.

Question 1. Of all the school leavers registered for employment with the Department of Labour, 59 per cent are females and 41 per cent males. What specific programmes do you see being necessary to overcome this problem? 2. What programmes would you see implemented to help women needing to return to the paid workforce who become redundant? 3. What is your attitude to the availability of the unemployment benefit for married persons? 4. Do you think affirmative action would overcome the imbalance whereby women are in the lowest paid, least skilled jobs? 5. What is your view about implementing more flexible working conditions

such as permanent part-time work, job sharing? 6. Do you support in principle wide availability of quality child care with government, employer and community support for all those who need it; including industrial creches, afterschool and holiday care? 7. What is your opinion of the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act? 8. Do you support the Human Rights Act in its present form? 9. Do you think some areas of parliamentary reform are necessary, if so, which? 10., The Women’s appointment File has not been used very often in the past. How do you see it being used in the future to increase the numbers of women in decision-making positions? Colin McNicholl (Avon): Question 1. Encourage females to study -for more technical careers. 2. Retraining and upgrading courses. 3. Support the means test. 4. Up to women to become more skilled. 5 onwards, no comment. Apart from 8. Do not support the Act. Peter Admore (Central): Questions 1 to 5. Generally

females are more emotionally and psychologically stable, so to a large degree legislation not be passed on these topics. Legislation ought rather to be removed when it is against women’s rights. Social and human development skills should be taught in schools because adult attitudes won't change until children’s attitudes change. Must remove’ from society any hint that men should have preference... 6. Yes, very much so. 7> Would like the whole Act changed. If we wish citizens to behave as adults we must allow them the responsibilities that adults are expected to take on. If they wish the government to pass a law onthese issues the only way to do this is by a referendum. 8.. Do not like the Humana Rights Act in its present form. Everybody is equal regardless of circumstances. 9. A Bill of Rights, propor-J tional representation, nonparty politics, code of ethics, , no conscience vote, referenda. 10. In favour of’ the file, but is the wrong way to do it.