RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ALLEGED

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25246, 26 July 1947, Page 10

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ALLEGED

PROSECUTIONS OF CHINESE FRUITERERS During recent months there had appeared to be a certain amount of racial discrimination in the prosecution of fruiterers, said Mr J. Smith (Rangiora) at the annual conference of Canterbury fruitgrowers at Rangiora yesterday. Prosecutions had been brought against Chinese and Jews while few had been brought against Europeans, he said. Mr Smith was speaking in support of a remit: “That the conference disapproves the racial discrimination in recent prosecutions for offences ir selling fruit.” The remit was seconded by Mr C. E. Pope, who said that it did seem that more Chinese fruiterers had been sued than others. “We are against racial discrimination, but we are scarcely in a position to say there has been any,” said Mr H. R. Sampson, Canterbury director of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation. Mr H. A. Dawber said the federation disapproved of any racial discrimination in the prosecution of fruiterers, but he did not think there had been any. After further discussion, it was agreed to alter the remit to read: "That the conference disapprove of any racial discrimination ih prosecutions for offences in selling fruit.” The remit will be considered at the annual conference of the federation at Wellington next month.