Minister Explains

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30768, 4 June 1965, Page 16

Minister Explains

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 3. The Minister of Immigration (Mr Shand) said today that he was “frankly very prejudiced against young men who took all they could get—and then bit the hand that fed them.” Commenting on Dr. J. Parmeshwar’s claim that a “white New Zealand” Government policy was forcing him to return to Fiji, Mr Shand said: “I have no prejudice about Indians or any other people who don’t happen to be New Zealanders. “To the extent that there is racial prejudice in New Zealand, it is engendered by people who act as Dr. Parmeshwar has done. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case,” Mr Shand said the people of Fiji needed medical services far more desperately than did the people of New Zealand. “Dr. Parmeshwar was prepared to accept a place in the university allotted for the training of a medical officer

for Fiji. Now, having had that advantage, he wants to run out on his moral obligation.” Mr Shand said Dr. Parmeshwar did not disclose some facts. “He originally applied to come to New Zealand for six years to study architecture. “After passing university entrance he applied to the Fijian Government to sponsor him for one of the places we make available to students to study medicine.” Membership to the medical school was restricted, and a “New Zealand youngster” working to enter medical school had to compete for entry. Only those with high marks were admitted. “A New Zealand student was excluded from the medical school so that we could help the Fijian Government by training Dr. Parmeshwar on the understanding that he would return to his country to provide needed medical service,” said Mr Shand. “I am certainly not prepared to help him.”