That Anti-Polynesian

Law

(A Letter to the Editor) 1 NOTICED in the May issue of the PIM an article about Poly nesians and part-Polynesians being barred from permanent resi dence in New Zealand and Australia.

Some of these laws are ridiculous.

I am part-Polynesian. My father was full European (American) and my mother was half-European, (American father and Tahitian mother). When I first visited Sydney, in July, 1912, I was a member of the Purser's staff of the Oceanic liner Sonoma; and, in the ship’s articles, my birthplace was shown as Tahiti. The immigration officials promptly rated me as a coloured person, and put me on the prohibited list.

I did not get caught in that way again. Next time, I insisted on be ing an American, and when they wanted to cross-examine me about my quarter mixture of Tahitian blood, I pointed out that in America an American is a free man, no matter what his racial make-up may be.

If New Zealand does not want to admit me, because I have a quarter mixture of Polynesian blood, that is OK by me. I am perfectly happy to be classed as a Tahitian. I con sider Tahiti a place much to be preferred to New Zealand; and I like to remember that New Zealand was first discovered and colonised by Tahitians —those fine navigators who travelled there in the famous canoe Tainui, more than 640 years ago.

I am, etc.,

Oscar Nordman

Papeete, 25/7/1951.