Smuts’ Statement Replied To By Mr. Malan

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 August 1948, Page 5

Smuts’ Statement Replied To By Mr. Malan

Reed. 7.20 p.m. London, Aug. 17. Mr. Malan, replying to General Smuts’ statement in the Assembly, said the Smuts Government had no colour policy and now that the Government in power had such a policy the Opposition was complaining. He said tiie Government’s policy was as

stated before the elections, namely, to abo.ish the present sysiem of native representation in Parliament am! to improve the natives’ lot in the reserves v. * re they would be able to preserve meir own identity and where Europeans would be allowed to live only under permit. Coloured people would be given better representation through special representatives instead of on the commmon roll. The Government also intended to introduce segregation in the universities. The Minister for the Interior, Dr. Te Donges, said the immigration scheme of the Smuts Government was too wide. It had allowed people to enter the Union without first being screened for suitability He added that the new Government would welcome the strengthening of the European population bv immigration provided the needs of its own people did not suffer. The large-scale immigra-< lion of the last two years had serously aggravated the Union’s housing and other shortages.