INTERESTING POINT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11296, 23 August 1922, Page 5

INTERESTING POINT

POSITION OF ASSYRIANS WILL THEIR NATURALISATION BE LEGALISED H MINISTER’S STATEMENT. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon asked the Minister for Internal Affairs in the House of Representatives yesterday it legislation would bo introduced this session to admit of Assyrians resident in New Zealand becoming naturalised. In New Zealand the Assyrians were loyal and law-abiding citizens. The delay in granting them rights of citizenship was attributed to the fact that Sir Francis Bell had not yet completed ■with the Imperial Government negotiations respecting the term of thear naturalisation. Would the Minister giro the House and the country an indication as to whether legislation would be introduced on. the subject during the currency of the present session? A QUESTION OF IMPORTANCE. Replying, the Hon, W. Downie Stewart said that the position of Assyrians had been a question of importance m New Zealand, and these people, in a lense, had been labouring under a grievance. There was no doubt in the mind of tho Crown concerning their naturalisation. They were originally subjects of Turkey. Under the Peace Treaty, however, Assyria was created an independent State and put under a French suzerainty. The Crown Law officers were in doubt really as to what the ultimate destination of the Assyrians would be in reference to the war going on between Greeoe and Turkey and the general unrest in the Cast. The Government recognised that very many Assyrians in New Zealand \rere loyal and good citizens, and toe Government were anxious to assist them and put them on a proper footing at the earliest possible moment. During the war there was a great deal of legislation dealing with alien enemies, whether technical or substantial enemies. The matter had been looked into recently -with a view to remedying the grievances of those people as well as the citizen-residents of New Zealand who might or might not be naturalised, but who were technically alien enemies. TWO POSSIBLE COURSES.

It was difficult to recommend to the House tho entire repeal of the legislation to which he had referred. It covered a great number of subjects—alien enemies acting as masters of ships, aliens working on wharves, and so on. There were two possible courses to take—‘to provide that the Government after inquiry might exempt individuals from that legislation, or might exempt them as whole classes, inch as the Ajuyrians; or perhaps the Government could declare that any per■on who was naturalised as a British atizen should he exempt from that egislation and the war legislation. He was submitting a roport to the Government at a very early date as to whether it would be better to take power to exempt individuals or classes from the effects of the war legislation and war regulations, or whether it would he better to declare that those who were naturalised would be exempted, leaving it to the Government to refuse naturalisation to anyone whose loyalty was in doubt. OTHER INTERESTS TO BE CONSIDERED.

Mr Seddon: Is there any difference between what is dome by the New Zealand Government and what is dome by the Imperial Government ? Mr Massey: No: no difference. Mr Stewart said. Sir Francis Bell was making inquiries at Home at the present time, hut as far as the agreement was concerned it opened up a very wide question. If they were to deal with the problem at all there were other citizens besides Assyrians whose interests had to he considered in connection with any legislation. However, he hoped to be able to make a definite statement at an early date.