ASSISTING REFUGEES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 67, 16 February 1939, Page 13

ASSISTING REFUGEES

GOVERNMENT URGED TO ACT, MEETING IN CITY. “That this meeting of Palmerston North citizens, while appreciating what is being done in New Zealand for the refugees of Central Europe, urges the Government, in the name of common humanity and the growing needs of that unfortunate people, to adopt a inoro generous attitude towards the admission of a select number to New Zealand.” This resolution was carried at n wellattended meeting held in the Alunicipai Hall, last evening, after a number of interesting addresses on the subject had been heard.

Air J. C. Young presided and apologised for the absence of the Mayor (Air Mans ford) and deputy-Alayor (Air Tremaine), who were engaged at another gathering, but who were, ho said, in sympathy with the object of the pres-' ent meeting. Jt was only too well known that there were many suffering refugees in Central Europe, and the meeting had been called in order to discuss some tangible scheme for rendering assistance to these unfortunate people. Similar meetings had been held in other centres and Mr Young felt that something of a practical form would he done in Palmerston North.

!' The first speaker was Air S. J. Bennett, who related details leading up to the present refugee problems in various countries in Europe—Germany, the . Balkan States and Spain. The problem would increase with the growth of Fascism, lie said. Air Bennett dealt with Herr Hitler’s campaign against the Jews. There were even in New Zealand, ho said, people who were opj posed to the Jews and agreed with the j Nazi doctrine. There were only 3000 j Jews in the Dominion, and because 300 had come to this country since 1933 some people were appalled. Such a spirit of oppression was against development, and if we as a people and as a nation were to be developed there must lie no oppression of people of other nations. Air G. 11. 0. "Wilson said British people were too much inclined to gloat over the fact that they were of pure British stock. AVliat was to ho lost by opening the door to people of other nations? he asked. America probably had the widest open door in the world; race intermingled with race, and yet the Americans could not ho regarded to-day as other than a wonderful people. If New Zealand opened the door to the unfortunate refugees she could lose nothing by it; on the other hand, she had everything to gain. Skilled j tradesmen were wanted to-day; farm labour was at a premium. Hundreds | of the refugees could lie placed, and | in the placing New Zealanders would j not be displaced. Air Wilson concluded' by making an appeal in the interests! of Democracy as opposed to Fascism I and Nazism. I

Dr J. Aielville gave details of the steps taken in Christchurch to assist tho refugees. Efforts were made to raise certain moneys and to find positions. The Christchurch committee, however, had met with certain problems due to the fact that the Government had no policy to deal with such an emergency. They had a long-range immigration policy, of course, but that policy went toward building up an allBritish New Zealand. Admittedly, said the speaker, that was a sound policy, but in such an emergency as the present one a spirit of international brotherhood should take precedence over all else. The admission of at least some of the refugees would be a truly

humanitarian act. Dr Aielville concluded. Rev. J. Hubbard prefaced his address by relating the parahlo of the Good Samaritan. Jews and other refugees were lying by the wayside to-day, ho said, and the call was to tho modern Good Samaritan. Tho speaker criticised the racial feeling which was so prevalent; there was an absence of that goodwill which enriched the people and the nation—that goodwill which made for a big world fellowship. Air Hubbard appealed to his hearers to do all in their power as Christian people to help the unfortunate refugees on the other side of the world.

Rev. J. Tyrell Baxter based bis re-! marks on the plan of God that all men j should be brothers, and he appealed to : all Christian people to recognise the despised people of Central Europe in a spirit of true brotherhood. | The motion, as previously sot out, ' was moved by Mr Hubbard, seconded hy Air Bennett, and carried. _ j A committee consisting of Airs K. ! Dean, and Alcssrs, A. Grigor, S. J. Bennett, R. AVaters, J. C. Young, Rev. J. Hubbard, and Drs Aielville, and Dry was set up to further the interests of , the campaign. I