INDIANS IN NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 252, 19 July 1920, Page 6

INDIANS IN NEW ZEALAND

Sir,—A recent Press Association tele-: gram related how a party of Indian I scrub-cutters took shelter in an unoccupied cottage in Carterton, when between sixty and seventy Europeans made a demonstration outside, threatening them with eviction.

This is a very serious matter, as these men aru British subjects, and I wish to appeal to all fair-minded Britons for that friendly help and protection which should be the right of every British subject in any part of tliQ Empire. Surely we have enough trouble in tho world at present without adding to it in this manlier. The Indians are a very loyal people, but wo can hardly vxpect them to remain so, if they are subjected to treatment of this kind. When H.R.H. the Prince of Wales was 'in YTeufngton the Indian residents of New Zealand presented' him.with an address of welcome"; for which a, letter of' appreciation was sent by the Prince through Jus private sqergtary before ho left' Xe.w Zealand, The Indian people lmv'e always shown ttieir loyalty to the EmpTfe when •she lias been in trouble, and during the' late war, the ;men of India "did their bit" as faithfully and > as nobly as any other British subject; 100,000 Indian troops were lauded in Mar* seilles in the early days of the war to help hold the Germans back, many more combatants and non-combatants followed and India also contributed 150 millions towards the cost, purely such a record should win our gratitude, as it is quite evident that the Indians also helped to "win the war." May we in New Zealand do nothing to irritate and estrarigo tlie loyal, law-abiding people, The Indians suffer under many hardships, largely because they have had no say in the government of thoir own country, but a change has now been brought about, they having been granted some, measure of reform. Some complain that Indians come here only to improve their position.; the same objection could be raised against the great majority of the people in New Zealand: It is a fact that many Indians have been trying for months to get home, but cannot secure berths. Other people" can procure passages—why not Indians?— I am, etc.,- . JANE DONALDSON, .. Local Secretary N.Z. and. India League.