Polynesians Out!

Maoris In—Other Polynesians Out!

Extraordinary Interpretation of Australian Immigration Laws

THE Prime Minister of New Zealand has sent to the editor of the “Pacific Islands Monthly” the following let ter dated June 1, which is self-explana tory: “I have your letter of May 7, in which you refer to the recent discussions be tween the Governments of Australia and New Zealand in regard to the admission

of Maoris into Australia, and ask whether I would be prepared to intervene on behalf of other Polynesians.

“The only matters affecting immigra tion into Australia on which the New Zealand Government would be justified in making representations to the Gov ernment of Australia are those directly •affecting the interests of New Zealand.

It was on this ground that I asked the

Australian Minister of Immigration for information concerning a press report which indicated that Maoris were to be put under some greater restriction than other New Zealanders in regard to their entry into Australia.

“I am happy to say that the reply which I received (and which you will have seen in the press), confirmed my belief that the Minister’s statement rested on a misunderstanding and that the Australian Government have no inten tion of altering their past policy.

VI have no personal knowledge of other cases affecting Polynesians to which you refer, but it does not appear from your letter that they are matters with which the New Zealand Government could concern itself.”

IT will certainly be a matter of interest to the people of Western Samoa and Cook Islands —both of which are administered as Territories of NZ—to learn that their exclusion from Australia is not a matter with which the NZ Gov ernment will concern itself.

Presumably, Australia puts Samoans and Cook Islanders in the same category as Tongans; and a Tongan woman, married to a Britisher, has been ordered to leave Australia by September.

Tongans, Samoans, Cook Islanders and Maoris are all of the same blood—the highly-esteemed Polynesian race—but the Socialist gentlemen who run Australia and New Zealand are incapable, appar ently, of understanding the points that have been raised.

The action of the NZ Prime Minister, in denying responsibility for his Samoans and Cook Island Maoris, is really extra ordinary.