Segregation Move “Step Back”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29748, 15 February 1962, Page 13

Segregation Move “Step Back”

(N Z J*.A .-Reuter—Copyright)

DARWIN, February 14. An aboriginal leader said today that white parents took a “step backwards into darkness” with their refusal to let their children sit in the same classroom with aboriginal youngsters.

“We are looking to the white people for guidance and help—not for intolerance,” said Mr Davis Daniels, a full-blood aboriginal and secretary of the Northern Territory Council for Aboriginal Rights.

Mr Daniels was commenting on the action of white parents in the Northern Ter-

ritory hamlet of Elliott in 1 withdrawing their children from school because five aboriginal children were admitted to regular classes on Monday. Referring to a claim by Elliott residents that aborigines there suffered from infectious diseases such as leprosy. ring-worm and trachoma that would endanger the health of their own children. Mr Daniels said: “We were free of disease until the white man came. Whatevet we have, we got from you. ‘"Civilisation has introduced us to the worst of the white man's ways Now an attempt is being made to deny our children proper education.” Transitional Period The Northern Territory Director of Native Welfare (Mr H C Giese) said in a radio broadcast in Darwin today that separate educational facilities for aboriginal children would remain only as long as necessary in the transitional period. ‘The objective is to have all children move into community schools as they become ready.” he said In Melbourne, an aboriginal singer. Harold Blair, reported the fulfilment of one of his greatest ambitions with enrolment of his daughter in the exclusive Tintern Girls' Grammar Schoolfour guineas a week, plus extras Nerida Blair, aged four, and in the first grade attended classes for ’he first time yesterday and enjoyed 'hem immensely “One day I dream that an aboriginal will be Prime Minister of Australia and I want every aboriginal to get the opportunity »o educate himself so that he could reach ’ this position," her father ' said.

EJE.C. Decision.—The Government Labour Party Parliamentary group today voted overwhelmingly In favour of Norway seeking negotiations for full membership in the European Common Market, the aasociated F.-ess reported.—Oalo, February 13.