Controversial Problems Debated By Convention

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27749, 29 August 1955, Page 13

Controversial Problems Debated By Convention

Controversial subjects were vigorously discussed at the Saturday evening session of the convention -on international relations at Canterbury University College. Nominally the discussion concerned the role of the British Commonwealth in world affairs, the Commonwealth’s contribution to the improving of international relations, and the contribution that could be made by 'New Zealand, but it was not surprising, as the session was attended by a heterogeneous gathering of 200 or more persons, that other subjects, such as imigration, racial prejudice, and compulsory military training crept into the progremme. The guiding panel comprised Messrs J. J. Saunders (history lecturer, chairman), P. B. Vincent (high school history master), D. K. Fieldhouse (history lecturer), G. M. Miller (economics lecturer), W. T. Roy (adult education tutor) and Professor L. G. Pocock (professor of classics). N.Z. Immigration Policy New Zealand’s immigration policy had always been very cautious and the country had been frightened of doing too much, while actually, it had done too little, said Mr Miller in answer to a question about a quota system for immigrants to New Zealand from Commonwealth countries. Mr Miller said that New Zealand had a population of about 2,000,000 living in an area that could support many more. If it did so the standard of living would be lower, and there would have to be some form of limitation. If there was no limitation, there would be a crisis. How a quota system should be achieved was a matter of political thought. “Surely no-one wants to come to New Zealand at present?” said Professor Poebek.

immigration policies were causes of tension between Asian and European countries, said Mr Roy. In India, for instance, Australia was well known to have a “white Australia” policy. New Zealand was known as a country where Maoris sat in Parliament. That was “all very nice,” but few Indians ever attempted to get into the country. It should be possible to keep an open door for British subjects on an equal basis. “As long as you have more than one race in any country, you will have race feeling, however much you may not like it,” said Professor Pocock. “The English-Canadians and FrenSh-Canadians are going it hammer and tongs, and the Dutch South Africans and British Sduth Africans are working up a blood pressure. Of course, he said with a smile; “everything is all right in New Zealand.” A Christian Pacifist delegate said he would like to see a quota as high as possible. All peoples had something to contribute to one another. There should be freedom of movement in the world, arid to say otherwise was not Christian, he said, amid applause. Racial Prejudice

The present trend of race relations in New Zealand bore about as much resemblance to that in the Union of South Africa as a puddle bore to Victoria Falls, said Professor Pocock, in answer to another question. “We are a happy country, comparatively speaking, but in Africa you have a regular maelstrom of mixed races,” he said. “Africa is one seething mass of racial problems. Fortunately, we have not got a serious race problem at all. That does not mean to say I agree with keeping people out of the country because of different colour, different race, or different speech.” It would be necessary to beware of a characteristic of Maoris in the North Island —employment at the unskilled rate—becoming hardened into a set pattern, said Mr Miller. Mr Vincent: There are too many Maoris of good intellect and high intelligence doing jobs well below their ability. Nationals Living Abroad “Is there any justification for one Commonwealth member to interfere on behalf of an irridentist minority in another member’s country?” was

the next question the panel considered. Professor Pocock said he would not agree that interference was wrong if it meant criticism. The only interference which finally counted was warships with troops disembarking, said Mr Vincent. All else could be done by nations talking among themselves. If South Africa wished to secede from the Commonwealth, she would be little loss. Professor Pocock: What about the British in South. Africa? What are you talking about, sir! . A World Federalist delegate said that if a person entered another country and accepted its laws, he became just as much a citizen of that country as a person who had accidentally been born there. z In reply to a further z question, Mr Vincent said that a positive step to improve “inter-Commonwealth relations” was to cease discrimination against Indians. “Should we not work towards a common sense of citizenship?” asked Mr Miller. Countries should not go out of their way to annoy other nations in the commonwealth, said a delegate, Mr C. F. Saunders. “If we are going to negotiate a pact outside, we should ask how other members are going to react to it,” he said. India had not been asked about the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation and had been against the pact, Mr Saunders said.