Job description

Press, 30 August 1989, Page 20

Job description

Sir,—Who said discrimination is being banished from our enlightened society? It is alive and well, but in a new guise, and nurtured by officialdom. I draw attention to a Situations Vacant advertisement in Saturday’s “Press.” It was placed by the Health Department, one of the front runners of the new social conscience, advertising for an art editor. In one breath it speaks of this Government department’s commitment to “equal opportunity” and then, in the very next breath, it narrows down applicants to non-smokers. This is subtly conveyed by highlighting that “a smokajree environment is provided.” feet another form

of discrimination seems to emerge in the above advertisement. It states that the department is “committed to the Treaty of Waitangi.” What has the treaty to do with health? The only possible implication is that, unless you agree with this current so-cio-political viewpoint, forget applying for the job! In Jhat case it becomes an issue of'discrimination against pakeha, Islanders, and others of European background who make up the multicultural face of New Zealand. — Yours, etc., C. WATKINS. August 27, 1989.