Agency To Advise Immigrants Sought

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31018, 25 March 1966, Page 12

Agency To Advise Immigrants Sought

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 24. A motion from the chairman, Professor J. C. Reid, calling on the Government to set up an agency to deal with the problems of immigrants, with special reference to Pacific Islanders, and Maoris from country districts, was carried unanimously at a meeting of the Citizens’ Association for Racial Equality last night. The attendance was 75.

A former nurse, Mrs T. H. Cassidy, said Maoris coming to the city in search of work were only moving within their own land, and could not be counted as settlers. In the city, they found that the money they sought could bring happiness but also heartbreak.

Maoris should not stay with relatives in the city as this led to overcrowding. On the attitude of landlords to Maoris she asked if the Maori had given landlords a chance for the abuses often practised.

The managing-director of a timber company in Fiji, Mr W A. Bourke, said the main

problem was helping new immigrants to settle and adapt to New Zealand life. He felt that Melanesians received “a raw deal.” He agreed there was some prejudice against the Fijian Indian, who was sometimes harder to integrate because of differing religious beliefs.

The secretary of the Cook Islands Society (Mr T. A. Henry) said islanders coming to New Zealand found many differing customs and were often uncertain how to go about things an Aucklander

would take for granted, such as enrolling his children in schools and finding work.