Labour and Immigration Minister David Burch insisted yesterday he was right to complain to firms whose employees sent him messages in support of the Corporation of Hamilton's Save Our City campaign.

Senator Burch told the Upper Chamber he got about 50 messages from people opposing the controversial Municipalities Reform Act 2010, before it was passed in the House of Assembly on July 23.

"Forty six of them came from people who used their private e-mail addresses and were fine," he said. "Three of them came from persons who used their firm's e-mail. Where I come from, I think that's not normal.

"I wouldn't use the Government's e-mail system to send something personal. I think it was wrong."

As revealed by The Royal Gazette last month, the Minister got a civil servant to send e-mails to the heads of the three firms involved, asking if the companies shared the views expressed by their employees.

Sen. Burch said in each case the company replied to say it did not hold the same opinion and was taking steps to deal with the worker involved.

"I'm not questioning anyone's right to their opinion," he said. "I just felt and I feel that if you use your employer's e-mail for anything personal, you have got to be wrong."

This newspaper spoke to a 24-year-old woman whose boss at a local company received an e-mail from the civil servant saying the Minister was "not at all pleased" to have been sent the protest letter by her.

:She said the complaint suggested Sen. Burch had "lost his mind".

The Minister said yesterday he knew who the woman was but would not name her or her firm. He said there were "a couple of learning moments there for that young lady".

"What happens if she uses the email to do something that the firm doesn't support? I'm just asking."

He added: "You cannot and you should not use your firm's e-mail to send personal e-mails. Freedom of expression I support 100 percent."

The Minister went on: "People can sense who you are. People can sense whether you have integrity or honesty or stand on principles and, particularly young people, trust me.

"They can smell a fraud at a thousand paces. I have no doubt, no fear and no worries about whether young people in this country understand who and what are telling them the truth.

"I have no concern about behaviour because I also come from a background and a raising where I don't have to be legislated. I don't have to have no code of conduct.

"I don't have to worry about whether what I do is going to come out tomorrow. I start from the point that everything I do is going to be in the public domain."

Referring to the e-mails and to fact that he tore up a letter from Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling and sent it back to him, Sen. Burch said: "I have no issue whatsoever. I say this: 'If you are coming over the mountain for me, come prepared.'"

Opposition leader Kim Swan said last month that Sen. Burch should be sacked for "intimidating citizens for their political views". Mr. Gosling said it was "disturbing that a government department would try to influence freedom of speech".