Reply To Criticism Of Dutch Migration Policy

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27636, 18 April 1955, Page 14

Reply To Criticism Of Dutch Migration Policy

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 17. The Minister of Irpmigration (Mr J. R. Hanan) replied tonight to criticism of New Zealand’s immigration policy made by a Dutch clergyman, the Rev. Anton Everts in Invercargill Mr Everts is minister to the Dutch Protestant community in Southland, Otago, and South Canterbury. He has been in New Zealand for a month. “Many people in Holland are being dfacouraged in their attempts to gain admission to this country,” said Mr Everts. “These people are being refused admission to the country without being given any reasons. These people want to come here, but are being put off. “The idea of bringing young couples who are engaged out from Holland to work under Government contract is not right,” he said. “These people have to work where they are put for two years, and in some cases, it just doesn’t work.”

Mr Everts said the New Zealand Government was not honouring its promise to Dutch migrants about bringing their parents out after the younger people had settled in the Dominion.

‘The older people are being stalled off. I think a relaxation of Government policy is what is required,” said Mr Everts. The percentage of Roman Catholic migrants being brought into the country was also criticised by Mr Everts. Of the last draft to reach Southland, it was claimed that only two out of the 23 were Protestants “There are about 15.000 Dutch people in New Zealand who have arrived since the immigration scheme was started, and Roman Catholics far outweigh Protestants numerically,” said Mr Everts.

Commenting on Mr Everts’s claim that many persons in Holland were being discouraged in their attempts to gin admission to New Zealand, Mr Hanan said that no applicants who were up to the required medical and

character standards, and who otherwise complied with age and occupational criteria agreed upon between the New Zealand and Netherlands Governments, were being refused permission to enter New Zealand. “There is no intention of lowering our selection standards to suit the wishes of people who have been in New Zealand for only a few weeks." Mr Hanan said. • “I agree wholeheartedly with Mr Everts when he states that the idea of bringing out young engaged couples to work under Government contract is not right, but he is obviously not aware that no young Dutchwoman who is known to have a fiance in New Zealand is selected under the assisted immigration scheme,” said Mr Hanan. As to the statement that the New Zealand Government was not honouring its promise to Dutch immigrants about bringing out their parents aifter the younger people had settled in the country, Mr Hanan said there was absolutely no justification for this criticism.

“If Mr Everts or any other person can produce evidence to establish that any Dutch migrant has ever been informed by a New Zealand Government representative that his or her aged parents would be permitted to settle in New Zealand, and such a promise has not been honoured, the matter will be remedied immediately,” said Mr Hanan.

“As to the final point of criticism, I can only state that we do not discriminate against prospective migrants on the ground of religion, nor would yve be prepared to do so even if his assertion that Roman Catholics far outnumber Protestants were correct.

“I would suggest to Mr Everts that he can best serve the interests of Dutch settlers in New Zealand by confining himself to the work for which he was permitted to come to this country, and by refraining fro® making public utterances on matters about which he is obviously very illinformed,” Mr Hanan concluded.