Restricted Laws (Press, 7 December 1976)
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Summary: Restricted Laws (Press, 7 December 1976)
On 7 December 1976, a letter to the editor from P. R. H. Maling, News Media Officer for the Gay Liberation Front in Christchurch, addressed comments made by Mr Cosmo Jeffrey regarding the Police Offences Amendment Bill, which targets gangs. Maling disputed Jeffrey's assertion that this was the first instance in New Zealand or English law of legislation aimed at a particular societal class. Jeffrey had drawn a parallel between contemporary laws and historical discriminatory laws under Hitler, which targeted Jews and homosexuals. Maling challenged Jeffrey's claim by pointing out that laws have historically been enacted in England and New Zealand that specifically affect homosexuals, tracing back to the reign of Henry VIII. Maling highlighted that the legal treatment of homosexuals in these jurisdictions has a long-standing history, and suggested that the penalties they face, such as the confiscation of motor vehicles stipulated in the Criminal Justice Amendment (No. 2) Bill, are part of a continued trend of targeted legislation that contradicts the principles of equality before the law. Maling's letter emphasised the importance of recognising this history in the discussion about contemporary laws and their implications on specific groups within society.
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