Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE MONDAY, JUNE 29th., 1925 UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 June 1925, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE MONDAY, JUNE 29th., 1925 UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS.

The revolt in Greece will not create much excitement among New Zealanders, as it'is difficult for us to distinguish the respective merits of Michalacopoulos and Iladjikyriakos, or,other individuals of similar elongated nomenclature. Where Greeks are concerned there seems to be over-much in a name. Greece is a discredited country, and her troubles are mostly her own concern, calling for little sympathy from the British, usually eager to help small nations. Nor are some of the Greeks abroad superior to those at home. In Queensland, recently, the Health Officer issued a strong report condemning the Greek immigrants in that State, for their low commercial, hygienic and moral standards, and urging caution in jjerniitting further influx in Australia, of .such undesirables. New Zealand has had this month a similar experience. A family of sixteen Greeks arrived at Wellington, and apparently had difficulty in obtaining the accommodation they required. A story of the “sob-stuff” kind, was published of their having to herd together in a wharf-shed. It was claimed that they had adequate money, but this seems doubtful, as the next thing the Dominion Press had to tell of their doings, was the theft by two of their women of money from an hotel safe, Apparently, the Greeks are of the nomad type, earning more or less honest pennies by telling “fortunes,” and similar take-dowms. When brought before the Masterton magistrate, he commented on the early abuse of the hospitality of the country by the Greeks, and he made it a condition of the release of the two women that they should leave the Wairarapa district immediately. That may be all right for Wairarapa, but what about the neighbourhood the Greeks next propose to honour by their presence? They should be made not to leave any one district, but' the Dominion., Our immigration regulations arc claimed to be already comprehensive, but if there is no law authorising the early deportation of undesirables, the sooner one is passed by Parliament the better. Protests are coming from all parts of New Zealand'and from all sorts of societies and organisations about undesirable immigrants reaching the Dominion. A few of these unwelcome guests are from the Homeland, but some are foreigners "with no claim for admission, and of a type this land can well do -without. Much as N.Z. requires population, if its resources are to be fully developed, it would be far better to have empty spaces than admit aliens who promise to be a source of permanent trouble and expense. The remedy is not secured by. magisterial eagerness to move on these

sort of people to some other area, nor« is it fair to rural dwellers that they should be stibjOdted to the menace these tiiiddsirabids by their presence create. There is no need for an anti-alien agitation, as some of the foreign immigrants are of good type, and can be cordially received, promising to become real assets to the Dominion. The less consideration shown to the. other kind, the better. The shipping companies which bring them should be compelled to take them away, if, within a period of, say, a year, the Dominion authorities find it desirable to make such a request. This provision would make shipping companies careful about the class of passenger accepted, and would effectually prevent the Dominion being made a dumping ground for those people othqr countries are glad to get rid of. The danger is ‘best stopped in its early stages, otherwise this country will pay dearly for its too open door. .