Calwell Does It

Again

European-Samoan Barred from Australia

From a Correspondent AUSTRALIA’S Immigration Minister (Mr. A. A. Calwell), in his frequently inexplicable application of the White Australia policy, has’ offered another gratuitious insult to the thousands of people of mixed European-Polynesian descent, who form a considerable propor tion of the population of Australia’s near- Pacific neighbours.

Recently, he astounded the Pacific by ordering the Tongan wife and two daughters of Mr. Stewart Garrick, of Perth, to leave Australia by September. (They have gone already, to a free coun try—Britain.) Here is his latest effort: Mr. Richard Lobendahn, 27-year-old linotype operator, of European-Samoan descent, a resident of Fiji, and a British subject, in an effort to improve his worldly lot and gain experience in his trade obtained the offer of a position on a Queensland daily news paper. His ability as a tradesman and good character as a citizen were vouched for by a senior member of the news paper’s staff, who had known him since he started at his trade 12 years ago.

With a job to go to, Mr. Lobendahn applied to Canberra for permission to enter Australia. Months of delay ensued; Mr. Calwell’s department did not even bother to acknowledge receipt of the application. Then came Mr. Calwell’s verdict on the application—not approved.

It is a pity that the Governments of the smaller Territories of the Pacific have not as loud a voice as New Zealand’s Socialist Government. A recent decision by Mr. Calwell that Naw Zealand Maoris would be barred from Australia drew quick and heated protest from New Zealand, and an equally rapid somersault by the Australian Government with a statement that it was all a mistake and there was no intention of banning Maoris.

Yet the Maoris are Polynesian people, just as are Samoans and many othe£ residents of the 'Pacific.

It appears that to gain entry to Aus tralia one must be an Italian (ex-enemy alien), a central European Jew, a Balt, a Maltese or a Greek.

The young European-Polynesian men of the Pacific were good enough to help keep the Jap from Mr. Cal well’s doorstep. (Richard Lobendahn’s elder brother held a commission, and won an MG in the Solomons.) But apparently they are not good enough to be citizens of the Aus tralia envisaged by Mr. Calwell and his colleagues.

Perhaps, if Richard Lobendahn had been a member of the Communist Party, his entry into Australia would have been expedited.