Discrimination hidden: study

Press, 5 December 1984, Page 8

Discrimination hidden: study

PA Auckland A 1960 report showing widespread discrimination against Maori workers was kept secret to protect New Zealand’s international reputation, according to recent research. An associate professor in history at the University of Auckland, Mr Peter O’Connor, said that material held in the national archives contradicted the official view of two peoples living in multi-racial harmony. Information gathered by senior public servants in the Labour, Justice and Maori Affairs Departments at the request of the then Government showed that race relations were in a poor state and getting worse. As a result, Sir Walter Nash’s Labour Government in 1957-60 shelved plans to ratify an international convention on employment because it feared opening New Zealand’s race relations to outside scrutiny.

Professor O’Connor came across the hidden report while researching race relations law for a book. Among 135 examples of discrimination it listed: Christchurch theatres refusing to employ Maori ushers Few banks or insurance offices willing to employ Maori workers, particularly on counter work. Ministry of Transport views that “the average motorist would be averse to being given a ticket by a Maori” Naval recruitment policy officially restricting Maori enlistment. The Government investigation, which was deliberately concealed from junior public servants, was made in a move to ratify International Labour Convention 107. Professor O’Connor said Sir Walter Nash and the then Minister of Forests, Sir

Eruera Tirikatene, had both said officially that serious discrimination existed. The open discrimination revealed in the report made the Government worried about preparing annual race relations reports required under the convention. The question was left until New Zealand quietly ratified the United Nations Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Racial Discrimination with little public discussion 12 years later, in 1972. In Wellington, the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Wetere, said yesterday that he had not seen any recent evidence of discrimination against Maoris in the workplace. Mr Wetere said he preferred to look forward, although the recent Maori Economic Summit had shown that Maoris were still predominantly in unskilled work.