Police meet leaders

Press, 27 October 1976, Page 6

Police meet leaders

Top-ranking Christchurch police officers yesterday 7 met more than 20 leaders of Pacific Island and Maori groups for “friendly’ discussions” on the overstayers controversy. The head of the Christchurch police district (Chief Superintendent G. E. Twentyman) refused to give details of the outcome of the twohour discussion. But he said the meeting had been called by the police to “ensure there are no misunderstandings.” “It was an attempt to clear up any misapprehension on their part, in view of remarks that have been made by some uninformed people,” Mr Twentyman said. “I am sure that the repre-

-Isentatives we invited understand police policy under the ilaw, and that we appreciate 1 1 each other’s position better,” e I he said. 5 ' The special police squad (formed in Christchurch last Friday to deal with over- -; stayers had so far made no arrests or approached any suspects on the street, Mr - Twentyman said. f The squad of three constables and a sergeant would rely mainly on information s ! received from the Labour De- '- partment, and would operate ; full-time. g' “But we will definitely not e,be making random checks,” 5-lsaid Mr Twentyman. “The only time we wall o question anyone is when we n have reasonable grounds to s- suspect they are here illegle ally.” ” He said that contrary’ to some statements, Pacific !- Islanders were not required

by law to carry identification. A meeting to discuss immigration issues, organised by the Otautahi Maori Committee, will be held tomorrow at 8 p.m. at the Te Rangimarie Centre.

The three speakers will be Dr K. Clements, who will speak on the legal implications of the police actions against overstayers, Mr R. A. Consedine, who will speak about New Zealand’s migrant labour policy, and Mr W. Nepia from the Maori and Pacific Advisory Council. Maoris, Pacific Islanders, and other interested groups are invited to attend the meeting. At the end of the meeting the audience would be invited to put forward resolutions and it was likely that amnesty for all overstayers would be proposed, said Mr Consedine.