“BOLSHEVISM.”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 11 June 1932, Page 5

“BOLSHEVISM.”

(To the Editor). Sir, —As one who has long admired the fairness of outlook of your subleaders, I am sorry to have to enter a protest against the tone of to-day’s effort, entitled “Bolshevism,” and the implication contained therein that we have loopholes in our immigration system permitting of the landing in New Zealand of undesirable characters. Such a statement not only fans the flames of the controversy raging round the subject of insular prejudice, but it also easts a slur upon our bona fide immigrants. In my opinion, the blame for the recent outbreaks of lawlessness does not lie with the Immigration Department, but with the Police Department, through whose lack of vigilance thousands of foreign firemen and sailors, deserters landing without per-' mit, have been allowed to settle. The press reports of the Huntly food raids, wherein the places of domicile of tlxc offenders was given great publicity, was a glaring example of insular prejudice. After all, we must not forget that if we did not come from overseas, our parents, or grandparents, did. One cannot be both pakeha and Maori, and we must not let our horizon bo bounded by the coasts of New Zealand. —I am, etc., CON BROGAN.