Mr Sastri’s Visit

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1922, Page 1

Mr Sastri’s Visit

INDIANS IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, June 7. The Right Hon Srinivasa Sastri. P.C., one of the most remurkable personalities in India, and in the wider sphere of world politics, is making n tour of Australia, at the invitation of the Commonwealth Government.

Speaking at a civic reception tendered to him in Perth. -Mr Sastri said that nine out of every ten Indians loved the Britannic Commonwealth, but a few causes potent for mischief existed. One of tire drawbacks to the solidarity of the Empire related to India and to her people. India asked Australia to strike down anything standing in the way of India’s complete equality with the Commonwealth. His countrymen spoke to him of disabilities owing to the white people’s prejudice against coloured nations, hut lie felt that he had only to state the ease fairly to have tilings sot right. The people of Australia were determined to keep India within the Britannic Commonwealth. The Australians should give tin assurance that, it' future gonerat ions of India threw m their lot with the Britannic Commonwealth. they would not he imperilling their sell-re-spect, their right to national existence, or the national recognition of the Indian population, lie did not think it much to ask that the Indians already in Australia should he admitted to full rights of citizenship. His countrymen had no intention of interfering with the economic integrity of Australia, or placing India's surplus population on the waste spaces which Australia was keeping to herself. India has given her word ; she was perfectly willing that Australia should' resist immigration from India; what lie wanted was equality of citizenship for his countrymen already in Australia. They were so few in number that they would not in anv way endanger the growth of Australia. It seemed a small thing, hut, in its ulterior significance, it was great and momentous. If his request was granted, it would he a striking proof to his countrymen, whose minds were in a delicate condition, owing to certain political events, that their status was assured, and that they could step forward to take their place among the men of the Britannic Commonwealth. Indians resident in Australia have made the following points of complaint which Mr Sastri is investigating:—(l) "Why are Indians debarred from Government positions? (2) \Y by are Indians debarred from receiving old age pensions, when they pay both rates and taxes. CD As British subjects, why should Indians he debarred from obtaining miners’ rights? (4) \\ hv 1 should nut Indians long resident in the State, he entitled to vote? (•>) " >_>>' are Indians debarred from working in the eanefields, whilst Japanese, ChinGreeks, Germans, ami other aliens are allowed to do so?