Gray case for inquiry?

Press, 29 May 1984, Page 13

Gray case for inquiry?

PA Wellington The sacked Education Department psychologist, Mr Les Gray, will take his case to the Ombudsman. Mr Gray said from Whangarei that as he had no right of appeal under the State Services Act the only course open was to get the Ombudsman to investigate the case. The psychologist was sacked from his part-time job with the Education De-

partment after a speech about the decriminalisation of marijuana. Mr Gray said his union, the Educational Institute, had heard from the Direc-tor-General of Education, Mr W. L. Renwick, and he was not willing to reconsider the dismissal. Mr Renwick had said the sacking had nothing to do with Mr Gray’s ability as a psychologist. “It was merely that I had

been a naughty boy and did not shut up when I was supposed to. It was my ability as a bureaucrat and a yes-man Jhat was in question,” said Mr Gray. The Educational Institute’s national secretary, Mr Jack Smith, said that Mr Gray’s case had “horrendous” implications for all public servants. “It seems if you speak out on controversial matters you get caned,” he said.