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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 1, No. 15. July 13, 1938

[introduction]

In view of the fact that the i.e. Moyne debaters will be back in Wellington shortly, the following interview "Salient" obtained with M. S. Thompson, a recent coloured visitor to this city, may be of interest.

"Although the American negro In legal status is an ordinary citizen, in the South his social position is subject to discrimination and segregation still further prevents him competing with the white man as an equal. In business life, such interests as banks and corporations are not in favour of placing negroes in leading positions. So you see the undeveloped state of native life offers small opportunity for the intellectual negro who has little room to apply his skill. There are too many coloured lawyers and doctors being turned out. I suppose I shouldn't say that, but opposition and prejudice are too strong—there is only opportunity for a restricted number of educated natives; competition among them pushes up the minimum qualifications necessary and men with degrees are appointed to such trivial Jobs as clerkships or are forced into other uncongenial work.

"More money should be spent on the illiterate masses, although education has become compulsory for natives in most States recently.