CHINESE RESIDENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26478, 4 June 1947, Page 6

CHINESE RESIDENTS

NO NATURALISATIONS PRESBYTERY TO ACT “ Since 1908 no Chinese has been naturalised in New Zealand. If previous to that date considerable numbers of Chinese residents were considered worthy of citizenship, surely there is no good reason for withholding that privilege from the much better educated and more influential representatives of China in our midst now. said the Rev. G. H. McNeur at the monthly meeting of the Presbytery of Dunedin, in the course of a report presented at the request of the Chinese session. •« Mr McNeur said that the attitude of the Government towards Chinese already in the Dominion and in regard to immigration was bound to be a factor in the promotion or prevention of international peace pnd goodwilUnilateral legislation imposed upon tne Chinese at home and abroad had always militated unfavourably against both the commercial and missionary enterprise of the countries concerned. Much was being done by New Zealand for China, but there was still much more that could be done. Chinese refugee women and cm a ret i in the Dominion were bound to leave when the Minister of Customs decreed. Mr McNeur added, and, although residential permits were being renewed each year, they bore a warning tna. the holder had no guarantee of further residence. It would be foolish to send these people back to China under the conditions prevailing there to-day, ana there was a strong argument in favour of their being kept in the country, either for a stipulated period or permanently. . The companionship between Chinese and European children of school age was of real educational value, said Mr McNeur, particularly in view of New Zealand’s tendency to insularity and isolation. “The bubble of racial conceit is effectively pricked by such contacts.” he added. “In many cases it is never allowed to develop.” The subject was referred to the presbytery’s Public Questions Committee, with power to approach Parliament ’f necessary.