JEWS AND OTHER REFUGEES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22496, 2 September 1938, Page 11

JEWS AND OTHER REFUGEES

ADMISSION TO NEW ZEALAND

DISCUSSION BY LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION

GOVERNMENT URGED TO RELAX CONDITIONS

[THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, September 1. The plight of Jewish and other European refugees, and the question of their admission to New Zealand were discussed yesterday afternoon and to-day at the annual conference of the New Zealand League of Nations Union. Dr. R. R. D. Milligan (Christchurch) moved that in the name of humanity, the Government be urged to expedite the admission of a fair and generous number of Jewish and other European refugees, and that the present financial guarantees be recognised as unsuitable in the circumstances, and so held in abeyance.

Dr. Milligan said he thought the League of Nations Union was too often to sit on the condemnation Side of things. A very large number of Jewish and other emigrants or prospective emigrants, from Austria in particular, and some also from Germany, had been besieging the Government for many months past, pleading to be allowed to come to New Zealand. The. Government was acting in a more generous way in the matter than had ever been the position before; but he felt that there was room for further generosity by the Government.

The reasons for the Government’s attitude were fairly obvious. First of all, the numbers applying were fairly considerable, and in the second place he did not think New Zealanders looked forward with pleasure to any idea, say, of 10,000 Jews', being assembled in Wellington, or 8000 in Christchurch. He did not feel like that about the position himself; but many people did. The urgency of some of the refugees was very great. Jewish people had lost their employment, or had been boycotted for a variety of reasons. Many had become workless and without income, and many of them, particularly those who supported the displaced regime, had been sent into concentration camps in Germany. They could proceed to New Zealand, however, if'the New Zealand Government would say that it would take them; He had been told that authoritatively. Doubtless the Government would do more if it were not afraid that the public generally was afraid of the Jews coming in.

Effect on Professions Mr A. Campbell (Christchurch), who seconded the remit, said he thought the strongest point Dr. Milligan. had made was his suggestion that the remit provided something very positive and definite that they, as the League of Nations Union, could do.

The Rev. F. J,' Usher (Wellington) said they all no doubt appreciated the position; but there must be an element of reason in their attituae. A small proportion of the refugees were of the agricultural type, the majority being doctors or lawyers. He understood that the medical profession was well staffed, and as it was doubtful whether doctors would be allowed tp practise after they came to New Zealand. he wondered what would happen to the new arrivals. Would they become so many more additional members of the unemployed? Could they be utilised in some other way to the good of the country and to their own well being? If they could be provided with some means of livelihood, it would not be desirable to draw the line until some thousands had been absorbed.

The Rev. W. H. P. McKenzie (Dominion council) said it was practically impossible to get a refugee into the country unless the refugee promised to go on to the land. There was every thing to gain by admitting refugees of all professions, for the country would then be richer. “If we close our country and our hearts to this appeal, it will react, as it will react on Germany, in a dreadful way in the future,” he said.

Mr McKenzie said he had been endeavouring to get a young German and his wife into the country. The woman was a qualified doctor, and the man was within two years of completing his course. The couple had written stating that they did not want to start medical practice: but had hopes of securing positions as medical assistants. If they took up farm work for seven a years they would get out of touch with their profession. The chairman (Mr T. C. Brash): Are you sure farm work is an essential condition?

“Government Not VmrUling”

Mr McKenzie said the opinion had not come from a Government department, but from an organisation that was working through a Government department. He felt the Government was not unwilling to bring in people who would work at their professions; but it was up against sections of the community that wished to bar a greater influx into the professions, and the medical profession *was one of them. Any influx would be' slow, and was just a “nibble” at the problem, and the country should be prepared to accept refugees, irrespective of their profession.

Mr R. Stewart (Wellington) said they should take a charitable view of the matter in the light of the persecution of Jews. It had been doubted whether Jews would take up farming in New Zealand; but they were farming in Palestine. In the last few years 50,000 Jews had applied for admission into Australia, and 5000 had been admitted. , Australian statesmen were waking up to the fact that the country needed population. The medical profession in New Zealand was not overstaffed. In recent years only four German doctors had. come into New Zealand, and there was still a shortage of . doctors in the Dominion. Had not one of the glories of the British Empire in the last few years been that it had been an asylum for refugees. . Mr Brash suggested that over-em-phasis should not he made on the refugee aspect of the matter, and he instanced the colour problem of South Africa. Discussing agricultural work, he pointed out the difficulties at present attending farm workers, and said there had been a great drift to share milking. He did not think it would be possible to retain workers who would become a charge on the country. The position might be handled by a committee set up by the Government that would have representation from such organisations as the union. The falling birthrrate was such m 1 lirgcnt matter that he wondered why countries were not clamouring for refugees. Mrs K. Gordon < Auckland); saitpft was well known that Jews made cx-

cellent citizens, even If they were put on the land. After further discussion the following, resolution was carried: “In the of humanity, the Government be urged to deal generously with applications for admission into New Zealand by Jewish and other European refugees, and that the existing requirements in regard to financial guarantees be waited, because of their unsuitability to the present urgent rircuiusunwes: and also that some ofTHe restrictions ift'YcTation to defined occupation* b* j'emoved.”