Interesting Point.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1922, Page 2

Interesting Point.

POSITION OF ASSYRIANS. \ MINISTER’S STATEMENT. ■WELLINGTON, Aug. 24. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon asked the Minister for Internal Affairs in the House of Representatives yesterday if legislation would be introduced this session to admit Assyrians resident in New Zealand • becoming naturalised, In New Zealand the Assyrians were loym and law-abiding citizens. The delay in granting them rights of citizenship was attributed to the fact that Sir Francis Bell had not yet completed with the Imperial Government negotiations respecting the term of their naturalisation. Would the Minister give the House and the country an indication as to whether legislation would lie introduced on the subject during the currency of the present session ? \ QUESTION OF IMPORTANCE. Replying, the Hon W. Downie Stewart said that the position of Assyrians had been a question of importance in New Zealand, and these people, in a sense, had been labouring under a grievance. There was no doubt in the mind of the Crown concerning their naturalisation. They were originally subjects of Turkey. Under the Peace Treaty, however, Assyria was creator, an independent State and put under a French suzerainty. The Crown Law officers were in doubt really as to what the ultimate destination of the As- ! Syrians would be in reference to the war going on between Greece and Turkey and the general unrest in the East. The Government recognised that very many Assyrians ill New Zealand were loyal and good citizens, and the Government were anxious to assist them and put them on a proper fpoting at the earliest possible moment. During the war there was a great deal of legislation dealing with alien enemies, whether technical or substantial enemies. The matter had been looked into recently with a view to remedying the grievances of those people as well as the citizen-residents of New Zealand who might or might not he 'naturalised, but who were technically alien enemies. TWO POSSIBLE COURSES. It was difficult to recommend to the House the entire repeal of the legislation to which he had referred. It covered a. great number of subjects—alien enemies acting as masters or ships, aliens working on wharves, and so on. There were two possible courses to take—to provide that the Government after inquiry might exempt individuals from that legislation, or might exempt them as whole classes, such as the Assyrians ; or perhaps the Government could declare that any person who was naturalised as a British citizen should he exempt from that legislation and the war legislation. H was submitting a report to the Cover - ment at a very early date as to whether it would be better to take power to exempt individuals or classes from the effects of the war legislation and war regulations or whether it would he better to declare that those who were naturalised would be exempted leaving it to the Government to refuse naturalisation to anyone whose lovaltv was in doubt. , OTHER INTERESTS TO BE CONSIDERED. Mr Seddon: Ts there any difference between what is done by the New Zea- ' l a ,ul Government and wliat is done by 1 the Imperial Government? Mr Massey: No ; no difference. 1 Mr Stewart said Sir Francis Bell was making inquiries at Home at the present time, hut as far as the agreement was concerned it opeued a verv wide question. If they were, to deal with the problem at all there were other citizens besides Assyrians whose interests had to he considered m_connection with any legislation. However, he hoped to be able to make a definite statementatanyearly date.