No action on petition

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32700, 1 September 1971, Page 3

No action on petition

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 31. A petition claiming that Britain’s. Immigration Bill was contrary to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi was referred to the Government today, with “no recommendation.”

The petition, from Mr Makere Rangiatea Ralph Love, asked Parliament to inform the British Government and the Queen that the action they proposed to take in the Immigration Bill affected an agreement entered into as a solemn treaty between the Maori people of New Zealand and Queen Victoria.

The chairman of the Maori Affairs Select Committee (Mrs E; I. Tombleson, Nat., Gisborne) said the com-

mitee had agreed that the British bill did not affect the rights and privileges of the ' Maori people. At the time of the signing of the treaty the status of a British subject was such that wherever he was bom or resided he was of British nationality, she said. At the imperial conference in 1911 it was agreed that each Commonwealth country should control its own immigration. The rights were today determined by each Commonwealth country. Mr P. A; Amos (Lab., Manurewa) said he did not think the committee had any choice in making its recommendation, but the petition did afford the committee an opportunity to see the Treaty of Waitangi in a new light. Mr V. S. Young (Nat., Egmont) said the treaty was not a legal document, but there were moral and binding responsibilities in it, and these had been honoured by successive Governments. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) said it had been the action of the Maori that enabled Europeans to come to this country other than by conquest. At the time of the Treaty of Waitangi there probably had been more Maoris than Europeans in the country, he said. The country should look forward to the day when Parliamentary representation was proportionate to the races.

Mr J. L. Hunt (Lab., New Lynn) said all New Zealanders should have equal rights when they arrive in another country. When another Government discriminated against some New Zealanders it was up to the New Zealand Government to protest as strongly as possible. The report was tabled.