ADMISSION OF ALIENS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 5, 5 July 1940, Page 5

ADMISSION OF ALIENS

CAUTION EXERCISED

A REASSURING STATEMENT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, July 4.

The great care taken in recent years in selecting aliens for admission to New Zealand, in spite of repeated requests for a less rigorous policy, was stressed by the Minister of Justice (he Hon. H. G. R. Mason), in a reply received by the council of the Chamber of Commerce. The council had advised the Minister that reports received had caused it to view with some alarm the presence of so many aliens and inquired whether the police had adequate powers to deal with the potential menace, and if there was any difficulty in the way of their being exercised to the full.

The Minister said* he presumed the council was not thinking of the great number of Yugoslavs in the Auckland Province, but more particularly of refugees from Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Poland, who had arrived in the last four or five years. The number of these had not really been very large. Great caution was exercised in admitting them.

There was agitation against the Government for its alleged harshness in not welcoming larger numbers. From personal experience he could stress the strength and insistence of this pressure from all quarters, having its origin in strong humanitarian sympathy. In spite of accusations against it, however, the Government continued its caution, both as to numbers and particular individuals.

"There are not so many aliens in our midst as to cause alarm," Mr.

Mason added. "It does not take many people in Queen Street speaking to each other in their native language to give the' impression that they_ are numerous.

"By far the greater number of refugees, admitted ' have justified . the care taken in selecting them from innumerable applicants. In. a few cases where doubts have developed appropriate measures have been taken. Appropriate steps have . been taken also with other aliens. whom one would hardly call refugees."

Mr. Mason said he knew of no respect in which the powers of the police were inadequate, or of any defect in the way. of their being exercised in full. His observation gave him ground for believing that the work of the police was done with thoroughness.