Identity cards

Press, 24 September 1987, Page 14

Identity cards

Sir,—-It was with amazement that I learnt that Mr Lange was advocating the possible use of identity cards by New Zealand citizens. Consensus is that the Labour Government was given another three year term by voters to prove that its free market and less Government interference policies would be our salvation. On the one hand it is advocating freedom of market and money and on the other a further loss of personal freedom. Even if the cards were used initially for the purpose of detecting tax avoidance and Social Welfare fraud, the possibility of abuse by police and Government departments does not bear contemplating. I feel strongly that this would be an erosion of our personal freedom. I wonder how our local Labour Government M.P.S regard identity cards.— Yours, etc., R. J. MALLINSON. September 20, 1987.

Sir,—l, personally, have nothing against this or any Government bringing in a national identity card system because I have nothing to hide from the Government, the 5.1.5., the police, the tax official or the Department of Social Welfare. What I do resent is small-minded Joe Blow busybodies at work or in the street making sneaky inquiries into my personal and family affairs; such people usu-

ally want to cause trouble and hurt out of plain nastiness. With a national identity card system they would not be so keen to do this, because their initial nosiness could easily be turned against them. — Yours, etc., TED HICKS. September 21, 1987; Sir, —David Lange chose an Australian television programme to suggest that New Zealand would consider the introduction of a national identity card. Such a card is the thin edge of the wedge of much greater Government monitoring and interference in our lives. Of course, we shall be told that there will be safeguards. Do not believe it. Once such a system is in place there will be tremendous pressure from both the Government and private sectors to make greater and greater use of it. Any government inclined to take measures that will seriously infringe civil liberties will find its task much easier. Before David Lange takes such drastic measures to try and catch out a few “bludgers” he should apply himself to solving the real problems of this country. — Yours, etc. PETER SHANAHAN. September 20, 1987. Sir,—lntroduction of identity cards would mean that we have no privacy. Police or anyone could check by computer what we have bought, where we have travelled, what we have done. If we value our independence, we should say no to the I.D. card. The I.D. card is not for our benefit. It is one step away from State control. We will have no choice if the I.D. card comes to New Zealand. We will be expected to have it or be penalised if we do not. — Yours, etc., E. M. HANSEN. September 21,1987. Sir, —As a concerned New Zealander and a former soldier, I feel I must speak out against identity cards. To link an identity card and a central-based computer system is all that is now required to have complete control on the actions and the lives of every New Zealander. Safeguards are all very fine to talk about, but I believe that even the present system is abused. Even if adequate safeguards were introduced, who is to say that we will always have a democratically elected government in a Pacific region that has seen coups and outbreaks of fighting in several neighbouring countries in recent years. We must remember that we are an under-populated, productive country that is virtually defenceless and — should the card be introduced — easily controlled. — Yours, etc., R. D. MORGAN. September 22, 1987.