PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 239, 6 September 1928, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

PROGRESS MADE YESTERDAY. BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL. i The of Representatives spent a considerable amount of time yesterday afternoon discussing’ the circumstances surrounding the death of an immigrant near Whangarei recently. Ministers also gave replies to several questions, and the report on the Police Department was received. In the evening the British Nationality and Status of Aliens (in New Zealand) Bill was discussed at length, being put through the final stages and passed.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REFERENCE TO IMMIGRANT’S DEATH. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 5. Tho Houso met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to a question put by Mr J. C. Rolleston (Waitomo), tho Primo Minister said that ho had seen a cable published in New Zealand, quoted from tho Daily Herald in London, with referqnco to tho death of a man named Dominic Nolan at Otaika, near Whangarei. He gavo tho history of tho mail so far as it was known to tho authorities. 110 said k that ho was not an assisted immigrant, hut notwithstanding this ho was met by tho immigration officers and offered assistance, advice and work. Ho decided, however, to find ivork for himself, and proceeded to tho North Auckland district. Nothing further was heard of him until October, 1926, at which date ho had secured employment with Mi - N. S. Mason, a farmer, at Maromaku, whpro ho remained until March, 1928. At this farm ho was housed, fed and paid well and was never asked to work if ho did not fool like it, and pleased himself at most times when ho left off. When lie finally left this job, ho had a plentiful supply of clothes, and drew tho balanco of wages duo, £8 10s. Ho then wont to work for Mr Wallace, a farmer, at Towai, and loft there on April 26, 1928, drawing £1 12s 6d, ns tho balance of wages duo. It was known that ho then proceeded to Whangarei, spending his money, and ho ovidently wandered a couple of milos out of tho town, lay down in tho scrub alongside tho road, and died. _ With reference to the statement imputed in the cablegram to the secretary of tho Waitomo Labour Party, Mr Coates said that it would bo advisable for Labour secretaries, before eicrulating damaging reports concerning tho Dominion, to obtain the truo facts. Tho Loader of tho Opposition: It is -not denied that his letter was found. Tho Primo Minister said that ho had further information, but ho did not think it advisable to give it. The man had been arrested and convicted at Whangarei. He had also been an inmate of tho Whangarci Hospital for fivo weeks, suffering from heart trouble. That was during tho time ho had been employed by Mr Mason. Mr Holland: The letter tho man himself left was sent to tho Daily Herald. Tho Prime Minister: For every letter of complaint, wo havo a number Mr Holland: Was it not the man’s own letter that was sent to tho Daily Herald?

the measure in committee, ho would renew his opposition at a later stage. Mr P. Fraser asked if the Minister had done anything in tho direction of preserving the nationality of Now Zealand girls who married aliens. OBJECTION BY MR FORBES. Mr G. W. Forbes said he was surprised that the Reform Party should have reversed its principles of two years ago and was now following tho Labour Party, which would abolish all distinctions of nationality. To them, our British nationality meant nothing. Mr Fraser said that the Labour Party was more British than tho leader of the Nationalist Party. They were following out tho recommendations of several Imperial Conferences and were trying to got -New Zealand to follow the example of all other countries in the British Commonwealth of Nations. Mr Forbes’s attitude was petty and was not worthy of the subject. Mr Forbes said that he did not want to see the lowering of British nationality, but he wanted to sec that people who came to Now Zealand should bo worthy of our country. Why should wo bo compelled to accept anyono who had had British nationality conferred upon him, for instance, by South Africa. POWER OF EXCLUSION. Hon. F. J. Rollcston said that it was quite clear Mr Forbes did not understand tho bill, which accepted tho standards of British nationality adopted by other parts of tho Empire, but that did not compel New Zealand to accept anyone and everyone who fulfilled tho conditions of that standard because clauso five of the Immigration Restriction Act gave us power to exclude anyone we pleased and that power was specifically preserved in tho bill before tho House. With regard to tho nationality of married women, ho did not think New Zealand could legislate on this subject by itself. Wo would have to act in concert with other parts of tho Empire and he feared wo could do nothing until the Imperial Parliament had given a lead, otherwise we could give ordy limited nationality, which could do very little good and might creato many complications. Mr Leo (Oainaru) said that tho Leader of tho Opposition was right when ho said this was Labour’s bill and it was a complete reversal of the policy laid down in 1923 by Sir Francis Bell and tho 'late Mr Massey. It was idle to say that wo were protected by tho Immigration Restriction Act. That law was passed in 1910, and if this bill was passed that night, it might just as well have been passed in 1923. It was all very well to say that tho standards were tho same in all parts of tho Empire, but it was a question of administration and an alien might very well pass tho standard in South Africn and vet not bo acceptable to us. Wo were asked to give up rights of control which wo should not givo up. Ho hoped tho House would not pass tho bill. It was too dangerous. NEW ZEALANDERS ABROAD. Hon.' W. Downio Stewart said that Mr Leo was exaggerating the dangers of tho bill. Ho did not think that thero was going to bo any largo movomont of British nationalised subjects, and wo would not bo called upon to admit largo numbers. In 1923 they hair not fully considered tho effect of tho Immigration Restriction Act. Now they more fully understood it and felt that their control under it was moro soctire than it appeared in 1923. If tho bill were not passed, Now Zealanders going abrond would be placed in a most difficult position for want of nationality. Ho admitted, that ho had changed tho view he had held in 1923. On tho information then available, that view was right, but with fullor information ho considered ho was justified in changing that view.

Tho Prime Minister: That I cannot say, but anyhow, tho information was supplied, according to tho report, to the Labour Party secretary in Waitomo. r lho letter contained incorrect statements. As a matter of fact, it was ridiculous nonsense to say there wero hundreds of men walking about starving. Mr Holland: It said hundreds of men; that is quite true. Tho Primo Minister: I do not think there aro hundreds of starving inon walking about, this country. There are men who havo had difficulty in getting work, it is perfectly true, but when pcoplo say there aro hundreds of iiicn walking about tho roads starving, well, I think tho pcoplo of tho country districts aro tho host judges Mr W. Parry (Auckland Central) : They arc sleeping under tho bridges in Auckland. The Prime Minister: I say tho labour unions have a duty. It is not generally realised that secretaries pounco on men on relief work for their dues. Mr Holland: That is not a fact. No union compels a man to pay up when ho is out of :work. . ... Tho Speaker: I am afraid that this discussion docs not como within tho scope of the question. , , , , Tho Prime Minister said that ho had letters saying that tho position was as lie had stated, and he concluded by saying that it would be just as well to throw out a broad hint that pcoplo should fall into lino and help.

Air Loo said that what weighed with him was that South Africa, with its idea of nationality, had come into lino with tho Imperial Act. What ho feared was that a class of pooplo with an anti British ideal would come in from South Africa for tho express purposo of spreading anti-British propaganda. Mr H. G. Mason (Eden) said that Mr Leo was suffering from confusion of thought. Ho was mixing up questions of naturalisation and immigration, whilo they were two different subjects. Air 11. S. Kylo said that ho would opposo tho bill. It was curious how British the Labour Party had suddenly become. He had never known it to bo so British before.

OTHER QUESTIONS. Among answers given by Ministers to other questions were the following. That neither the Primo Minister nor the Ministor of Public Works had given a promise to the Gisborne Railway League that the routo of the Gisborne-Wairoa raihvay would bo a coastal route. That the question of having improvements made to tho insulation of refrigerated wagons is at present receiving the attention of the Railway Department s technical officers and in this connection the chief mechanical engineer is visiting Wairoa and will inspect tho cold air blast system in operation there. That the Government regrets that it cannot subsidise the purchase of aerodromes owing to tho enormous cost. In other parts of the Empire clubs are normally required to provido their own aeiodromes before they are approved. That, the question of red reflectors on motor cars is at present under the consideration of the Government. The motor regulations, including tho one referred to, wore submitted to all tho principal automobile associations and were fully considered and discussed by them before they were passed. • POLICE REPORT. Discussion on the annual report of the Police Department followed, members generally expressing entire confidence in the cmciency of the police force. The roport was laid on tho table. STATUS OF ALIENS. In tho evening the British Nationality and Status of Aliens (in New Zealand) Bill was taken in committee. The Loader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) raised tho question whether, under tho bill, it was proposed to naturalise members of tho Samoan and Rarotongan peoples. This he did not-think New Zealand had the power to do, and ho asked the Minister whether he got the power to do what he proposed to do under clauses seven and eight of the bill. Tho Minister said that these clauses were taken from tho Act of 1923, and were based on certain resolutions passed by the League of Nations authorising the country holding, the mandate to grant naturalisation to subjects of the mandate. Mr Holland said ho did not think that even that justified tho step proposed to bo taken, for at some future time tho Samoans might not be under our control at all, and then it would bo a question which nationality prevailed. So far as the Cook .Islanders were concerned, they were already New Zealanders since their islands were annexed to New Zealand. So far as tho bill as a whole was concerned, it embodied the principles for which the Labour Party always stood. In fact, it was the Labour Party’s Bill, and ho would support it. He was always prepared to support tho Government when the Government was right. Mr E. P. Loo (Oamaru) said that he was opposed to tho main principles of tho bill and although he would take no, part .against

Air J. A. Loo (Auckland East) said that when Air Kyle understood tho Labour Party better he would find it was tho most British party in tho House. During tho courso of his argument, Mr Leo (Oamaru) said that if tho bill was passed it could not bo repealed. Mr Fraser asked tho Attorney-General whether that view was sound, and Mr Rolloston ropliod that if Parliament passed tho bill, Parliament could repeal it.

Air Leo said that Parliament did not pass tho bill, which was reserved for the Royal assont, and it was that assent which passed it. Therefore, it could not bo repealed without the Royal assont, and it was possible that the assont might not bo given, considering the bill entered into a reciprocal treaty with other parts of tho Empiro. That was his view. MATTER PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED. Air Coates said that this view was quite wrong. Tho matter had been discussed at tho Imperial Conference of 1926. It was raised by tho Free State of Ireland, and it was agreed that tho King would act on tho advice of tho Alinistcrs in the various Dominions. Therefore, tho House could rely on tho King giving his assont to tho repeal of tho Act, just as readily as ho gavo his original assent. On clauso 1 being put, Mr Leo (Oamaru) called for a division, which resulted in tho clauso being passed by 43 votes to 13. Tho remaining clauses were then passed without amendment. Air Fraser moved an amendment, the effect of which was to retain British nationality to Now Zealand women who married aliens. This amendment was discussed at length. Air A. Harris said that it was evidently tho view of tho law that a husband and wife should bo of one nationality. Air W. A. Vcitch said he feared that the adoption of the amendment might create difficulties not now foreseen.

Mr Leo (Oamaru) said that tho question had boon referred to a committee of the Imperial Conference and it had not been able to recommend its adoption. Hon. F. J. Rolloston said that lie had already statod that Now Zealand could not safely act in this matter except in concert with tho Imperial Parliament. For that reason, ho could not accept tho amendment.

Labour members supported tho amendment on the broad ground that it was an act of justice to women. On a division tho amendment was lost by 46 to 12. Tho bill was reported without amendments and was read a third time and passed and at- 12.40 tho Houso roso till 2.30.,