Isunder

Migrants

Si , r >—{ strongly criticise the Australian Press for having failed to give enough publicity to the South Pacific Forum held in Canberra in February.

The Australian Press took much interest in giving much publicity to US President Nixon's visit to Peking—disregarding the fact that Richard Nixon was in China after seeking an invitation for himself.

The conservative attitude of the Australian Press on the South Pacific torum shows that the Press tried to suppress the issue of “Immigration” from getting much publicity; despite the facts, it is discriminatory as it deals dif ferently with the whites and blacks. It is rather strange that the Indians and the tijians who were friends of Australia and who fought against the inter national tide of Communism are barred—but the Fascists and the Communists are allowed in as Europeans. SATYENDRA PRATAP SHARMA JP 26 Inkerman Street, Granville, N.S.W. * i T, Mr * Presumably omits PIM from his criticism of the Aus tralian Press; PIM had two men at the Canberra conference and gave it four pages. We agree the Press generally gave the conference scant coverage but what publicity it did give was m fact on the matter of immigration,’ and Katu Mara s views were given wide attention. PIM believes Australia should take Island migrants and says so often. But immigration is a vexed question for any country; problems arise often unexpectedly (see the report of some of Fijis recent problems on p. 47). Take the case of Mr. Sharma himself and his presence m Australia. He is from Fiji, but he arrived here in July, 1969, from Moscow, where for the previous 10 months he had been attending a trade union college affiliated with the Moscow State Universitv his expenses being paid by the Soviet Government. (Presumably Mr Sharma’s h< cu ar SOme res P° nsibill ty for the “international tide of communism” which Mr. Sharma appears to criticise.) In Australia he was given a temporary entry permit after an approach was made on his behalf by a Federal Labour politician. He still holds a temporary permit. In 1970 Mr Sharma was appointed a NSW Justice of the Peace, having been sponsored by a NSW State politician. A month or two later, in October, 1970, he married a Sydney woman. In a Sydney court on February 4 this year Mr Sharma was convicted and fined on four counts, of having discharged ’a firearm in a public street, of driving a motor vehicle without a licence and with driving of STS' er p e nl,v nd T7 UnmSUre K motor^ hi 9 le - Mr. Sharma is a former membef ° f F ?a P< S!2; F ° rce ’ who was dismissed in 1960. In Nadi Court Fiii 3 °% 1%2 ’ J?- e Was convicted and fined £5O for having given false mformaOon to a public servant ... in a letter written under a fictitious name tn le rri° f i. Mr ’ Shar , ma u s P revi ? us Fl P record it is a matter of public interest he . Came , to Jf. a PP° in ted a JP in Australia; in view of his Sydney convictions it is of public interest as to why he still retains the office In view of his background generally it is a matter of public interest as to whv he is permitted to remain in Australia. mierest as to why

Mr. Sharma fakes the oath of JP in Sydney in 1970.