Calwell Explains Policy On Immigration

Chronicle (Levin), 10 June 1949, Page 2

Calwell Explains Policy On Immigration

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter-

Copyright)

JReeeiveu Thursday, 11.3U p.m. CANBEREA, Juiie 9. "It is true that a measure of tlis•crimination on racial grounds is exercised in the adniinistration of our immigration policy," said Mr. Arthur Caiwell in the House of Eepresentatives tonight, when moving the second reading of amendments to the Immigration Acx.. "That is inevitable in a policy basecl upofn the concept that the homogeneous charaeter of the population shall be maintained. Australia does not stand alone in this regard. Australia 's immigration policy has been magnified and distorted in a fashion that has led to the mistaken belief on the part of ouf northern neighbours, that we regard them as raciaily inferior and because of that, apply to them a policy of totai exclusion. Our policy is not and never has been directed at the total exclusion of non-Europeans. Nor is it based on any assmuption Of racial superiority. The ideal underlying our policy is the preservation of the homogeneous charaeter of our population and the avoidance of frietion that inevitably follows the influx of people having different living standards, traditions and national character^stics. ' ' Mr. Caiwell said the Bill was to rernedy defects revealed by the High Court judgment in the ease of the Ambonese woman, Mrs. O'lveefe", •married to an Australian nian. Some thousands of people who noramlly would have been refused admission to Australia, were giveu refuge during the war pureJy ou compassiouate grounds. The IP'eat majority accepted repatriation without hesitation. ""Ar ruinority of ?ome hundreds had made it elear they iutended to remain here permaueutly if fhey could. "No Government can alford to ignore a.n impudent cliallenge to its • authority from this hard core^of passive resis1 31'S, ' ' he said. "This Bill, brings within its scope all aliens who^entered Australian during the war and also certain non-alieus who came here by reason of the war. It is necessary to . include this latter class as a number of pe rsons" in regard to whom it is desired to talce action, aro British subjects. "