Barbados Migrants

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30115, 26 April 1963, Page 8

Barbados Migrants

Sir, —If B. B. Thompson is not a Maori then how does ne reconcile his racialist ideology with his presence in New Zealand, which by his reasoning is surely the prerogative only of the original inhabitants. [he Maori people?— Yours, etc.,

. J R. FOSTER. April 23. 1963.

Sir.—l wholeheartedly support John H. Lench’s right to express his opinions about Barbados immigrants, but I deplore his accusation that those who op rose toe views he espouses are “renegades” and “patronage seekers.” He appears to be a typical racial bigot, in that he resorts to mud-slinging and abuse in an effort to justify his case and detract from toe main principle involved, which is: “Is it strictly honest to disqualify prospective immigrants solely on :he grounds that they are coloured?” Surely it is a puerile argument that only white immigrants make good citizens? Who of these Empire Loyalists can claim that toe thousands of coloured soldiers who fought and died alongside white soldiers in both World Wars were in fact fit to die for democracy but unfit to live in amity and equality with white citizens in a democratic society such as New Zealand’s? As a Christian, I personally could not live wtth my conscience if I felt that a coloured man could not enter this country simply because his skin was a different shade from mine.—Youre. etc, COLOUR-BLIND. April 22, 1963.