No action against Chch bookshop

Press, 24 February 1986, Page 5

No action against Chch bookshop

No action will be taken against a Christchurch bookshop accused of distributing anti-semitic literature.

The Human Rights Commission was called in to settle complaints about Western Destiny Publications, but the Proceedings Commissioner, Mr Graeme MacCormick, has decided no action will be taken.

The reason given by Mr MacCormick is that Western Destiny Publications is not still functioning as a bookshop or displaying the two publications complained of. Western Destiny Publications used to have a bookshop in Cathedral Square. “Inquiries have not located anyone willing to openly accept responsibiFity for the management, ownership or operation of the concern known as Western Destiny Publications, which is not itself a legal entity,” Mr MacCormick said in his decision. Neither of the two books complained of, "The Protocols of the Eld-

ers of Zion” and “The International Jew,” was a New Zealand book, and neither would be accorded credibility by more than a few people, he said. “The International Jew” had also been out of print in recent years and not readily available, he said.

Similar complaints against two other book distributors will also not result in any action being taken by Mr MacCormick. These complaints were against a bookshop run by the New Zealand League of Rights in Auckland, and the distributor of a pamphlet.

The Race Relations Conciliator considered the complaints had substance in terms of the Race Relations Act, but was unable to settle the complaints. The complaints were referred to Mr MacCormick to decide whether proceedings should be issued before the Equal Opportunities Tribunal.

Mr MacCormick said his job was broader than the conciliator’s. Not only

did he have to consider whether the material complained of would be found unlawful by the tribunal, but other factors had to be taken into account.

These included whether the complaint was a continuing problem, whether any orders made would eliminate the problem, and whether news media publicity would be coun-ter-productive for the complainants and respondents.

Mr MacCormick said the League of Rights was a more active organisation than Western Destiny Publications but the books complained of were not being distributed in a particularly active way.

Because of their historic nature, the books would not be given credence by many people, he said. ? If any action was itaken, a protracted hearing would be needed to prove the falseness of one of the books. This would tie up valuable resources and give the league an unwarranted degree of publicity, Mr MacCormick said.