ALIEN MIGRANTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23088, 13 July 1938, Page 14

ALIEN MIGRANTS

ADMITTING JAPANESE REPLY TO BISHOP'S IDEA HON. W. E. BARNARD SURPRISED FIVE MILLION CLUB'S STAND [by TELEGRAPII —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday "It is almost incredible that a statement such as that attributed to Bishop Cherrington could have been made by any Englishman, or, indeed, by any porson with a knowledge of history, even of modern history," said the president of the Now Zealand Five Million Club, tho Hon. W. E. Barnard, when invited this evening to comment on tho suggestion of the Bishop of Waikato that Japan should be offered room for her surplus population in tho Dominion. "Tho bishop suggests that wo should offer any waste land we have as ' a freo gift to the Japanese. In 20 years they might make it a veritable garden of tho Lord,' " Mr. Barnard said. "I would point out to tho bishop that so far Japanoso, where they have penetrated into foreign lands, have usually succeeded in creating a situation which is about as unlike 'a veritable garden of the Lord' as wo can imagine. A Reply In Rhyme "Surely the bishop must know that immigrants into New Zealand can bo acceptable from the point of view of those already here only if they can be readily assimilated into tho present community of New Zealand. I cannot take the bishop's remarks seriously and hope that the members of the Waikato synod extended wondrous patience. His remarks are not only the product of gross ignorance of international conditions, but do a grave disservice to the Dominion, as well as to the Empire. "May I suggest," Mr. Barnard said, "that the bishop give consideration to tho following lines (upon which I express no comment whatever), published in the Magazine Digest of March of this year:— "How courteous is the Japanese. He always says, 'Exo.uso me, please.' He climbs into his neighbour's garden, And smiles and says, 'I beg your pardon,' He bows and grins a friendly grin, And calls his hungry family in. He grins and bows a friendly bow, So sorry; this is my garden now.'" Club's Preference Mr. Barnard said the Fivo Million Club favoured migrants of British stock, with Northern European stock next in order. "Our preference for Northern European stock," he said, "is not because we have made any distinction against Southern Europeans or the peoples of any other places, but because Northern Europeans can be more readily fitted into the community life of New Zealand and share to a greater extent the outlook and ideals of New Zealandors."