Childish attack —Mrs Hercus

Press, 20 November 1982, Page 6

Childish attack —Mrs Hercus

PA Wellington Comments by the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, on the Human Rights Commission’s report on price freeze discrimination were childish, said the Labour member of Parliament. Mrs Aqu Hercus, yesterday. • - “The commission has made a sensible and wellargued decision on a per< fectly valid case.” Mrs Hercus said. .“But as usual, the Prime Minister cannot deal with the facts at issue, and launches into a childish attack on those; who state the* facts.”. Mrs Hercus,'who. referred the matter to the Human Rights Commission, said the central issue was a simple matter of deciding if there was any valid reason for women to pay more for their fashion clothes while mens fashion clothes were subject to the price freeze. The commission said it could find no valid reason for women to pay higher prices,

she said. .’ Mr Muldoon said on Thursday, that he was "very disappointed” with the commission's decision. “They will., want us to wear the same clothing next. . They , will be opposed to different clothing for men and women.” Mr Muldoon, who has criticised: the commission on other occasions said, “They ‘ are not getting any better." Labour's deputy leader. Mr Lange, said -yesterday that Mr Muldoon’s constant sniping at the commission was ’ designed to blunt its enthusi,.asm for the job. The Human Rights Com- ' missioner, Mr P. J. Downey, has refused to comment. Mr-Lange said it should not be forgotten that the commission was a creature of the National Party. “It was a creature he (Mr Muldoon) did not want a part of anyhow. It was one of his efforts to buy off the liberal wing. The Commission for the Future was another."