Colour Bar Hint In Immigration Policy

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31107, 9 July 1966, Page 15

Colour Bar Hint In Immigration Policy

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, July 8.

The National Committee for Commonwealth immigrants suggested today that Britain was discriminating between black and white immigrants.

The committee said it had evidence suggesting that immigrants from “old Commonwealth” countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, faced different entry tests to those from “new Commonwealth” countries, which include those in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. The committee said new

immigration restrictions were not applied to the “old Commonwealth” countries.

This strengthened impressions that people from the new Commonwealth were automatically unwelcome, it said today in a list of recommendations aimed at giving “fair and reasonable” treatment to all Commonwealth immigrants. “This discrimination is bound to cause feelings that colour is involved,” said the committee, which was set up officially last year to advise on integration of Commonwealth immigrants. One of the committee’s suggestions was that any intending immigrant turned away should get full written reasons for the decision. Other recommendations are that immigrants whose entry is disputed should be allowed a temporary stay, and that there should be no restrictions on temporary work for students or visitors. The recommendations are being submitted to the Committee on Immigration Procedures, also an official body.

The committee said that where there is a dispute, the immigrant should be allowed full representation, time to collect evidence and a right to appeal. It notes that in the year to last September, 1375 Commonwealth citizens were refused entry.

Hitchcock Honoured.—The 67-year-old film director, Alfred Hitchcock, has been presented with the bronze medal lion of the City of New York by the Mayor, John Lindsay, for his outstanding screen achievements. —New York, July 8.