NO POLL TAX.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18675, 26 April 1926, Page 8

NO POLL TAX.

INDIAN ARMY HOCKEY TEAM. A REPORT DENIER. (PRES3 ASSOCUTIOJt TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, April 24. With reference to the report that the New Zealand Hockey Association would be required to deposit a £lO poll tax in regard to each native member of the Indian Army hockey team, which is due in New Zealand shortly, inquiries were made at the Customs Department, Wellington, and it was stated that the report from Christchurch was misleading, and that apparently some misunderstanding existed on the matter. Under tho Immigrants Restriction Act, 1920, Indians are not permitted to enter New Zealand unless they are in possession of permits. If an Indian wishes to visit tho Dominion temporarily, he must obtain a temporary permit, and deposit £lO, which sum is refunded to him on his departure. In the case of the Indian hockey team the Hockey Association was informed that the condition regarding a £lO deposit for each member of tho team would be waived if the Association would enter into a bond of £IOO for the team as a whole. Only one surety was asked for. The request for a £IOO bond, it was stated, would have entailed a simple formality that could liavo been complied with, with a minimum of trouble. While the bond would, of course, be subject to forfeituro in the event of any member of the team failing to leave Now Zealand at the end of the tour, it was recognised that this was an extreme improbability, as tho players "were all members of the Indian Army, and would be unlikely to attempt desertion. For the reason that they belonged to the Army, the conditions regarding their entry into New Zealand were made as simple as possible, and the usual £lO deposit was not sought. It was stated further that the matter was one wfiich was possiblo of adjustment without any friction or undue controversy.