MP criticised for 'foolish' racial comments
Asians better at fruit-picking 'because their hands are smaller'
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Politics
Another National MP gaffe left leader John Key fielding questions about potentially racist comments while out of the campaign trail in New Plymouth today.
Prime Minister Helen Clark has described National Party immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith's comments - that Asians have small hands that make them better at picking fruit and that some Pacific workers needed to be taught to use toilets and showers - were daft, ridiculous and demeaning.
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said the comments were racist and had Dr Smith not apologised it could have affected the party's future relationship with National. She does not think he could now be immigration minister.
Dr Smith said earlier today he regretted causing any offence but that his comments were taken out of context.
Mr Key said the comments could be offensive "and I think it's totally appropriate to apologise this morning".
Dr Smith made the comments when talking about expanding the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE) which allows Pacific people to do fruit picking work to include workers from Asia.
He told the Marlborough Express that Asian workers were better at picking fruit "because their hands are smaller."
Dr Smith said employers should not be solely responsible for teaching or funding training that prepared workers for life in New Zealand.
"Some of them are having to teach them things like how to use a toilet or shower...I don't think the employer should have to pay for that work."
In a statement Dr Smith said his remarks were taken out of context and he was referring to concerns employers expressed.
"Presented in the way they were, I can see that my reported comments may have caused offence. I sincerely regret that because it certainly was not my intention."
Miss Clark said the remarks were not fitting of a senior MP.
"Absolutely daft comments. If you were going to judge who was fit to pick fruit by the size of their hands you would never pick men over women because generally we have smaller hands," she told reporters.
"This is ridiculous. It's not what you would expect of a senior MP. I don't think he engaged brain before mouth."
Miss Clark said she did not agree with the comments about Pacific people.
Mrs Turia said she thought the remarks were racist.
"It is racist to describe people in such a negative way."
The size of hands was irrelevant and many employers who hired workers under the scheme had been "really thrilled" with their workers.
"He had no right to be making comments of that nature. To say they had to be taught to go to the toilet and take showers, that's just so rude and ignorant."
She said he was completely out of touch with real people.
"He can smell the power coming his way and he thinks that going to give him licence to speak out as he likes about any other people - it won't be tolerated."
She was pleased that Mr Key did not condone the remarks and that Dr Smith apologised.
"If National didn't require an apology it would have affected us in the future."
Mrs Turia said Dr Smith should not be immigration minister if National won the election.
"Definitely not because what he's shown is he has a particular attitude towards a group of people."
Mr Key was asked if the remarks would hurt Dr Smith's chances of being a minister.
"I take a number of factors into consideration when we put together a (cabinet). I'm not going to single those out in isolation," he said.
Mr Key said during an election campaign all candidates statements were "heightened... My MPs are aware of that."
The latest gaffe followed National Party transport spokesman Maurice Williamson this week getting into strife over comments to do with toll roads.
Dr Smith was caught out earlier in the year being secretly recorded talking about "swallowing dead fish" to keep the public happy.
The Marlborough Express asked if that experience made him more careful: "I suppose sadly it does make you more cautious, although by and large it doesn't trouble me much because I don't usually say anything that would trouble me."
National supported the RSE scheme and wanted to expand and improve it.
Miss Clark said the focus was helping unemployed people in the Pacific and New Zealand could not solve the problems of the world.
"Our first priority is the Pacific. If we don't help there we are not helping to take pressure off unemployment away from those communities."
She thought it unlikely numbers under the scheme would be increased if unemployment grew in New Zealand.
- NZPA
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Apparently I have small hands that are perfect for picking fruit. Sign me up! I can just dispose of my PhD from an Ivy League university and go home...clearly opportunities abound in NZ for hands such as mine.
Weep? Ha! Why should I weep if ONE vineyard had agreed with Smith's remarks. Lets leave this one to rest as a majority of NZer's did think his comments racially insensitive.
Laters Joey my boy!!!
You have a point there... some people do seem to be extrapolating this to "Lockwood Smith releases new policy: Asians have small hands"
I don't know whether to laugh or cry at that...
Brian McNamara the expert on everything jumping on the bandwagon regarding Lockwoods comments.Was he present to put into context the words chosen by Smith,no he is just another cheap shot politicion.Has he showed an interest in the workforce of one of our provinces biggest export earners up until now,i think not.All Lockwood Smith conveyed was what came from the viticultural contractors present at the meeting who have actual evidence relating to the employment stengths of different nationalities.The physics of Asian people are obviously better suited to handle a lot of the bending and close to ground work in vineyards and market gardens,just like Asian people would find it difficult to become and All Black or work in industries where heavy lifting is required.The Olympic games are an obvious forum to see diferent races strengths.Oh and sorry but alot of the groups that came here from the Pacific did have major house keeping dificulties,through no fault of their own just a totally different enviroment.It is a bloody tough ask to expect any employer in any industry to have to house train as well as work train staff within an exceptable budget that the industry can withstand entering difficult global financial times.Off course they want the best workers they can find to keep a viable business. What has happened in this Country when people dont like or want to hear the truth.
Brian McNamara the expert on everything jumping on the bandwagon regarding Lockwoods comments.Was he present to put into context the words chosen by Smith,no he is just another cheap shot politicion.Has he showed an interest in the workforce of one of our provinces biggest export earners up until now,i think not.All Lockwood Smith conveyed was what came from the viticultural contractors present at the meeting who have actual evidence relating to the employment stengths of different nationalities.The physics of Asian people are obviously better suited to handle a lot of the bending and close to ground work in vineyards and market gardens,just like Asian people would find it difficult to become and All Black or work in industries where heavy lifting is required.The Olympic games are an obvious forum to see diferent races strengths.Oh and sorry but alot of the groups that came here from the Pacific did have major house keeping dificulties,through no fault of their own just a totally different enviroment.It is a bloody tough ask to expect any employer in any industry to have to house train as well as work train staff within an exceptable budget that the industry can withstand entering difficult global financial times.Off course they want the best workers they can find to keep a viable business. What has happened in this Country when people dont like or want to hear the truth.
I look forward to your next scientific/medical discovery made with your eyes. Who needs scientific research or experiments?
Countries, ethnicity and race are socially constructed, there's nothing inherently biological about these terms (it's more environment, diet, socio-economic factors blah blah blah). If that was indeed the case, then you're suggesting that Pacific Islanders inherently don't know how to use the toilet, and have to overcome biology in order to do so, which is utterly ridiculous. Or, all the people claiming "Asians do have small hands" - that depends on your definition of "Asian" (clearly not Indians, Yao Ming, "white" people living in Asia)...
Hey Ropati,
Read this & weep: http://www.stuff.co.nz/vote08/4737281a28477.html
I asked some of my islander friends if they thought I was a red neck & they laughed. I laughed to & then told them to get back to work & to flush that damn toilet. Bless them all.
valid question... guess the "pacific" thing is an embodiment of the 3 races... poly, mela and micro-nesians
1) It is an anatomical fact that on average asian's have smaller hands than westerners. 2) *some* pacific workers? He could have said that about any workers - sounds true to me and since when is "Pacific" a race?
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In response to # 330
I totally agree, I am fed up with this PC correct world we live in. That is one of the reasons I left the UK as I saw a lot of this PC race based stuff over there.
One example is some UK councils will not even fly the National Flag (London Borough of Romford Town Hall) through racism fears after calls of 'racist British Imperialism' from immigrants. Imagine not being able to fly the National Flag in NZ !!!!! Unfortunately some people just like hiding behind their culture/skin colour when approached with an issue/opinion and start pointing the racist finger so every white person runs and hides afraid they will be called a racist which again is brought on by the shouting PC brigade .
This is the best small country in the world but I'm starting to see a few (and I said a few NOT all) people as being a bit naive as what could happen if the PC brigade keep on getting their way as it just feuls prejudices and furthers the PCers propaganda.
So come on people, lets ditch this PC stance as we are all breathe the same air the end of the day and are entitled to our opinions etc so unless someone (from whatever culture) is being blatantly horribly racist lets all live together in harmony.........