Official Explanation Should Be
p. 108 · Read in the full issue
Fiji Indian Barred From New
Zealand
Official Explanation Should Be Given
AN explanation from either the Govern ment of New Zealand or the Govern ment of Fiji seems to be called for 1 in relation to the case of Chantra Pratap Sharma, 24, a Fiji Indian who has beer studying in New Zealand, with a view to securing a degree in accountancy' Recently he has been attending Christ church University classes and supporting himself by working for a Christchurch firm of accountants.
He has been refused permission to re main in NZ, to continue his studies, ana the NZ Customs Department refuses any information.
If, as is understood, Sharma is s British subject, born in Fiji,, he has, definite rights and privileges; and th* facts that he is of Indian blood, and thaj the Fiji-Indian community is a political problem for the British Colonial Office have nothing whatever to do with thtj case.
There may be several reasons why thu further residence of Sharma in NZ ii considered undesirable; but, until one oc other of the Governments concerned gives an explanation, it naturally is assume*: that the Fiji-Indian is being kept out or. racial grounds; and that in the presenr circumstances of the British Common: wealth, would be a very bad thing.