H.R.C. to study Indian’ remark

Press, 3 October 1983, Page 6

H.R.C. to study Indian’ remark

PA Auckland The Race Relations Conciliator has referred the "curry-muncher” remarks of the Auckland City councillor, Mr Jolyon Firth, to the Human Rights Commission for further consideration.

The chief executive officer at the Auckland Race Relations Office, Mr Peter Toohill, said that the file on Mr Firth would be considered at the next meeting of the commission. The commission could decide that the matter had gone far enough, or could take the case to the Equal Opportunities Tribunal, he said. : '

The conciliator, Mr Hiwi

Tauroa, had earlier ruled that two remarks by Mr Firth about the Indian community at a council townplanning committee meeting had breached the Race Relations Act.

Mr Firth was asked to give an assurance that he would comply with the act in future, and to apologise to the Indian community. He refused to apologise, and said in a letter to Mr Tauroa that he was not prepared to accept meekly the forms of bureaucratic intimidation the act authorised.

Mr Tauroa was acting on a complaint by the Auckland Indian Association.