ASIANS AS MIGRANTS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29265, 25 July 1960, Page 11

ASIANS AS MIGRANTS

R.S.L. Refuses To Discuss Subject

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) MELBOURNE, July 22.

By refusing to discuss a motion favouring the admission of quotas of Asian immigrants to Australia, the Returned Servicemen’s League had snubbed Asians, the Melbourne “Herald” said in an editorial today.

The Victorian State conference of the league had taken a “deplorably closed-mind attitude,” the newspaper said.

The motion, by the Melbourne University sub-branch of fee league, was discharged from the agenda paper by a large majority of delegates at last night’s meeting. The conference refused to allow Mr Newman Rosenthal, who moved the motion, to speak on it. Another delegate, moving that Mr Rosenthal's motion be removed from the agenda paper, said this was Tin the grounds that the motion was political. “Whether this motion is lost or is passed it will bring adverse publicity to the league and to Australia,” he said. In its editorial today, the “Herald” said: “This is not the first time that its conference decisions have made the league appear outiof touch with community feelmg on public questions. . “It is a pity that an organisation like the league goes on record as'being unwilling to listen to the case for admitting a limited number of Asians. This is a gesture which affronts both Asians and Australians.

‘‘The marked swing in public opinion towards allowing limited numbers of Asians to come here has been shown by Gallup polls. “Six years ago, more than 60 per cent, thought, as the R.S.L. apparently still does, that' all Asians should be kept out. By January of this year, 55 per cent, said that quotas should be admitted.

“The corporate voice of the league speaks only for itself, but unfortunately its out-of-date rejection of change will be heard abroad and widely resented. Goodwill towards us in neighbouring Asian countries seems bound to suffer,” said the "Herald.”