ALIEN NATIONALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25302, 12 August 1943, Page 5

ALIEN NATIONALS

SUPERVISION IN DOMINION QUESTIONS ASKED IN HOUSE (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. The British Nationality and Status of Aliens (in New Zealand) Amendment Bill was read a second time, put through its remaining stages, .and passed by the House of Representatives to-day. Moving the second reading, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr W. E. Parry, said that the Bill embodied the provisions of a similar enactment of the British Government, which had asked for an assurance from New Zealand of reciprocal legislation. The present Bill provided for such reciprocity. The Bill granted British status to aliens who joined up with the British forces and thereby had the effect of reducing the period of residential qualification for British nationality. Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Oppn., Waitomo) said that many alien refugees had made their homes in New Zealand. What was the position of aliens who had sought refuge in the Dominion and had not joined the armed forces? he asked. He hoped that some control was being exercised over aliens who had remained outside the forces and were not naturalised and were purchasing property in the Dominion. Mr Parry: That question does not come under the Bill. Mr Broadfoot said it was time the whole problem of aliens was raised. He asked what the position was with respect to aliens who were working in New Zealand in good jobs while New Zealand workers were serving overseas.

The Minister of Justice. Mr H. G. R. Mason, said the Bill could not be used as an opportunity to discuss the whole complex question of alien nationals. At the end of the war the question of aliens would have to be carefully gone into.