'No Wonder He Had To Back Pedal'

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1948, Page 7

'No Wonder He Had To Back Pedal'

SYDNEY, Fri. (11.30 a.m.).—“No wonder Mr Calwell had to back pedal on his Maori decision,” comments the columnist “Granny” in the Sydney Morning Herald. “He started more trouble than he wanted. “The New Zealand Government has only four more members than the Opposition and has that majority only because four Maori constituencies all returned Labour men.

“The Maoris bitterly resent any suggestion of a colour ban. “There is no doubt that had Mr Fraser failed to make Mr Calwell change his mind the New Zealand Government might have been out on its ear. "Mr Calwell’s narrow interpretation of the White Australia policy will have further repercussions when the South-West Pacific conference meets in Sydney next September.” In a leader today the Sydney Telegraph charges that Mr Calwell has produced an illogical compromise. In informing New Zealand that the rights of the Maori will be respected and that Maoris can enter Australia with the same freedom enjoyed by other New Zealanders, he has admitted an exception and compromised with the strict interpretation of the White Australia policy.

OTHER PROBLEMS The Telegraph suggests that there is now no logical answer to pleas from Australian girls married to negroes, Indonesians and Malays, or Australian men married to Chinese girls or from any of the Polynesians of the Pac.’fic who might ask for admission on grounds that Australia has already extended hospitality to their racial orothers.

“And if we justify discrimination against them, by pointing out that the Maoris are full citizens of a sister Dominion, what are we to ,ay to full citizens of our sister Dominions, India and Pakistan?” asks the Telegraph.

MINISTER’S ASSURANCE It was earlier reported that Mr Calwell had communicated to Mr Fraser an undertaking that no restrictions of any kind will be placed' by the Australian Government upon the entry into Australia of Maoris..

The question was raised recently in Parliament, when Mr Calwell said Maoris would be treated in the same way as other Polynesians.

This produced instant reaction from New Zealand, whose representatives complained about such discrimination. It is understood that Mr Calwell, in his communication to Mr Fraser, has amended his previously expressed viewpoint and stated that Maoris can enter Australia on the same footing as other New Zealanders.

Inquiries made in Wellington last night showed that Mr Fraser had not yet received a communication from Mr Calwell, but that he “expected to receive it.”

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