Pregnancy tests for Samoans attacked

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32460, 21 November 1970, Page 3

Pregnancy tests for Samoans attacked

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, November 20.

The requirement that single Western Samoan women wishing to settle in New Zealand had to take pregnancy tests was again attacked in Parliament during the committee stages of the Western Samoa Bill this morning.

Opposition members insisted that the Gov-j eminent, by requiring the tests, was not carrying out the provisions of the bill which results from Western Samoa becoming an independent member of the Commonwealth.

The bill makes New Zealand law apply to Western Samoans as to other Commonwealth citizens. • Although the Acting Chairman of Committees, Mr J. R. Harrison (Nat., Hawke’s Bay), ruled that the subject did not come under the bill. Labour members said all laws should apply. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) said there was nothing in the Immigration Act that required the tests to be taken.

The bill provided that Western Samoans should; have equality before NewZealand law and, Mr Kirk:

; said, this should be under . all laws. The Acting Minister of . Foreign Affairs (Mr Picker■ing) said that the adminis-

itrative procedures which required single Samoan women to undergo pregnancy tests before being granted entry permits to New Zealand were under discussion between the two Governments. Mr Pickering said there was nothing in New Zealand law about pregnancy tests—• they were part of administrative procedures. Mr Kirk immediately asked whether the tests were being done without any legislative authority. “Has the Government no statutory basis for its administrative practices?” Pregnancy tests were not required of immigrants from Australia, Ireland, Scotland I or England.

Cadets camp.—More than 100 young Royal New Zealand Air Force airman cadets (and first-year certificate in .engineering trainees from the iR.N.Z.A.F. airman cadet school, at Woodbourne, are Ito camp for nearly two weeks jin the upper reaches of the iWairau Valley in Marlborough.—(P.A.)