NATURALISATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 131, 6 June 1939, Page 10

NATURALISATION

SHORTER PERIOD

MINISTER NOT IN FAVOUR

LAW JUSTIFIED

The lessening of the residence qualification, which must be possessed by desirable foreign subjects settling in New Zealand under permits before being able to obtain British naturalisation, was suggested by a deputation to the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) today, but the proposal was received with disfavour. The Minister expressed the view that the Government considered the present law was justified in the requirements it met. The law, he said, provided that the residential qualifying period should be five years in a British territory, one year of which was required to be spent in the country adopted by applicants.

It was pointed out to the Minister that some of the Dominion's most successful settlers on the land had come from foreign parts. Nearly all of them, it was said, were now naturalised and had proved to be most lawabiding people who had helped in the development of the country. It was stated that since the troubles in Europe had become more acute many persons of good standing had either been admitted already by the Minister of Customs or were desirous of leaving their native lands to settle in New Zealand. Their loyalty to Britain being undoubted, it was felt by their relatives that, considering the circumstances under which they had decided to select New Zealand as their adopted country, they might be allowed a shorter period than five years' British citizenship. EXCELLENT SETTLERS. • The Minister said he. agreed that a number of foreigners had made excellent settlers in New Zealand. Many of those people were the right type of citizen, loyal and hard-working, and merited the certificate of naturalisation given to them. He did not wish it to be inferred that some of the people now being allowed entry to the Dominion would not prove to be satisfactory settlers, but he considered that they should qualify under the law in the same way as their percursors had done. The conditions for naturalisation under the British nationality and' Status of Aliens (in New ZealandO Act, 1928, imposed a residence in his Majesty's Dominions -for a

period of not less than five years, one year of which must be in New Zealand immediately preceding the application, and previous residence either in New Zealand or some part of his Majesty's Dominions for a period of four years within the last eight years before the application, that the alien be of good character, that he have an adequate knowledge of the English language, and, if his application be granted, that he must intend to settle permanently in New Zealand, or in some other part of his Majesty's Dominions. "I think all will agree," added Mr. Parry, "that none of those requirements of the Act should be removed. In the light of events in the past, and now, it is a big thing to be under, the British flag, and the price to pay for that citizenship is not severe but, necessarily, it should be rigidly imposed." I