Book complaints ‘tit-for-tat’

Press, 15 January 1986, Page 11

Book complaints ‘tit-for-tat’

PA Auckland Pro-Palestinian groups have complained to the Race Relations Office about the book, “The Haj,” by the best-selling Jewish novelist, Leon Uris. The Race Relations Conciliator, Mr Hiwi Tauroa, said the complaints were clearly tit-for-tat for his referring three anti-Jewish books to the Human Rights Commission for possible banning. He said that he expected Maori complaints - in response to his finding that Donna Awatere’s book, “Maori Sovereignty,” in parts breached the Race Relations Act. “My big concern is that people are trying to turn us into a censorship body,” Mr Tauroa said. “But that’s the last thing on earth we want

to become." Mr Tauroa said that the Race Relations Office’s investigation of various books followed complaints from the public. It had to act on complaints. He hoped that a guideline for handling such cases in future would follow whatever decision the Human Rights Commission made on the three anti-Jewish books. Under the law, the books could be referred to the Equal Opportunities Tribunal, a semi-judicial body, for prosecution. The Minister of Justice, Mr-Palmer, has been asked to change those parts of the Race Relations Act under which the book complaints had been made. Mr Tauroa said that Mr Palmer had not replied to the request