Labour with Reform on Nationality Bill

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 445, 29 August 1928, Page 6

Labour with Reform on Nationality Bill

EMPIRE UNIFORMITY NEW ZEALAND LAGS (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Several members of the House of Reresentatives opposed the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Bill, which was introduced from the Legislative Council and put before the Lower House last evening for its concurrence. Mr. H. E. Holland said the Bill was fundamentally wrong in at least one direction, that it came five years too late. The Minister of Justice, the Hon. F. J. Rolleston, in explaining the Bill said that it was intended to make naturalisation papers granted in New Zealand operative in any other part of the Empire, and vice versa. New Zealand and South Africa were the only Dominions that did not at present have this arrangement. South Africa was taking steps to remedy the deficiency so it was time New Zealand did so, and in fact New Zealand had been specifically invited by the Imperial Conference to do so. Mr. P. Fraser commended the principle of uniformity embodied in the Bill. He regretted that no provision was made for dealing with British women who had lost their status as British subjects by marrying foreigners. Mr. E. P. Lee wished to know what form the invitation from the Imperial Conference had taken. As a matter of fact the Imperial Conference had looked with sympathy on legislation passed by the Dominion in 1923. This Bill represented complete change of front. The very conditions that made the legislation of 1923 desirable prevailed to-day, yet they were asked to admit to New Zealand anyone who was able to secure a certificate of naturalisation in England, Canada or South Africa. The difficulty was that the conditions imposed elsewhere might not be the same as those imposed in New Zealand. New Zealand had an undeniable right to say who should enter here. Mr. G. W. Forbes said that Mr. Lee had made out a very good case. No case had been made out for the reversal of the Government’s previous attitude. Mr. H. G. R. Mason differed from Mr. Lee, and did not think there would be any danger of letting undesirables into the country. At present there was an element of fraud about New Zealand’s naturalisation papers, be-

cause they were no good -elsewhere. If the Bill were rejected New Zealand would be preserving the right to bo arbitrary, peculiar and ridiculous. After Mr. H. Atmore and Mr. H. M. Campbell had added their opposition, Mr. Rolleston*, in reply, said that whether the Bill passed or not there would be no alteration in the terms under which people were admitted to the Dominion, as the Immigration Restriction Act would still be in force. Mr. E. P. Lee forced a division on the second reading, which was carried by 38 votes to 15. The tmusual spectacle was seen of the Labour Party voting with the Government, while in the other lobby were the Liberals, Messrs. Veitch, .Forbes, Atmore, Buddo, Ransom, Seddon, and the Reformers, Messrs. Hunter, Burnett. Hudson. Lee. Campbell, W. Jones, Kyle, Eliott and Potter.