Qaulified Tongan refused because of past “criminal record.”

Mana (Auckland), Volume 2, Issue 3, 4 May 1978, Page 5

Qaulified Tongan refused because of past “criminal record.”

In January this year, the National Youth Council (NYC) asked for nominations to represent them on the National Council of Social Services. In March this year, Will Ilolahia was nominated by the Auckland Regional Youth Council and the National Youth Council accepted him also as their only nomination for the position in the Social Services Council. However Ross Tanner, NYC President, received a call from the Minister of Social Welfare, H. J. Walker, who questioned the NYC’s nomination and the validity of their choice. The Minister wanted to know if NYC was aware that Will had just completed a three year jail term and that he had been involved in the Aboriginal Land Rights demonstration in 1972,” where he was justifiably outspoken about the racist treatment of the Aborigines by the Australian Government. National Youth Council submitted Will Ilolahia’s name to the Government as the only nominee. Government, after refusing this nomination, asked for three more nominations, but the National Youth Council decided to submit Will’s name as he w'as the best qualified to fulfill the position for them. Once again Will's nomination was refused. Caucus called for a meeting and they declined National Youth Council’s nomination on the grounds of Mr Ilolahia’s criminal record and not the Aboriginal affair as was expected. Helen Knox, Youth Advisor to the Prime Minister, said she spoke to Mr Muldoon who confirmed that he did not support the nomination put forward by the N.Y.C. When asked to reconsider, the Prime Minister again declined his

support. Because of this refusal by Government to accept both the Auckland and the National Youth Council's nomination, the Prime Minister was informed that the Councils would approach the media. He suggested that Mrs Knox inform the councils not to because it might have diverse effects on the individuals concerned. Indeed Will Iloahia believes the decision by councils to approach the media would have diverse effects on the Government! On the basis that Will Ilolahia has a past “criminal record”, the Government refused his nomination to the Social Services Council put forward by the Youth Councils who strongly feel that Will’s past experiences give him more insight to the needs required by both the Social Services Council and the people who they are meant to serve. Will states that he was wrongly convicted on a charge that he was innocent of, and was imprisoned by this society aS a punishment. Even after this judicial revenge, he says he is still being punished. It seems that his term of imprisonment has not, in the eyes of the Government wiped the slate clean. “I was provoked by six Europeans and sentenced to six months — Muldoon was provoked by one demonstrator, yet his sentence was to lead this country — who’s the criminal! My present job funded by the Government, as a detached youth worker. My past experience is vital in the counselling, sometimes at personal risk, of youths, gang members and people who recognise and respect what I, an “ex convict” am trying to do for them. And yet the Government is not willing to accept me to cosell them. Are they afraid of

the truth that they will see, and that the rest of New Zealand will see about them?” “Reform and rehabilitation? In this society, these concepts do not exist. I’m wondering whether it is worth reforming. I can see some of my friends in crime doing quite well. Some say that I should wait for ten years before this society recognises the fact that I have paid my debt in full. Man! When I walked out of prison I was determined to go straight! My present job even, verifies this, but the Government still doesn’t think so.

“When I was Community Advisor for One Tree Hill Borough Council, I was helping elderly Pakehas over their social problems, organising play groups for young middle Mass pakeha kids — yet now the middle class pakeha politicians are virtually saying that I’m not worthy of the moninations! I would advise the Tongan overstayers that this country isn’t worth it. We all thought this society was to one to go for. “Last year, I went to Hong Kong as the sole representative for New Zealand, at a Youth Workers Conference. I received a Commonwealth Youth Study Fellowship to study youth work for New Zealand. Now the New Zealand Government is telling me I'm not worth it. “Imprisoned by this society, discriminated by this society, I spent months away from my family for this society and now society still doesn’t want me.” There are many Polynesians who are in the same situation as Will Ilolahia. Not only is he a Tongan in New Zealand who is suppressed, but he is marked as a convicted Tongan in New Zealand. How long do ex-boobheads, the majority of which are Polynesian because of the racist judicial system, have to pay and suffer under a society which does not accept reform or rehabilitation?