Reporter Replies: Usa Comparison Can Prove Two Things!

Sirs,—The reply from the Acting Secretary of Labour, Mr. Wood, to Salient's article on the Frank Stone case attempted to clear the Department's position a little, first, by stating that the letter was to be read in the context of the interview Stone had with the Department when applying for a visa renewal, and, secondly, by comparing the Labour Department's policy with that of the United States.

I am told that Frank Stone did not have what would be considered an "interview" in which context the letter could be considered. Instead, Stone just gave his information and application to a "girl behind a counter"; that was his interview.

The fact that the United States has stricter immigration policies than does New Zealand is true, and the need for strict policies is obvious. However, in a case very like Stone's, where I was assured by the United States Embassy in New Zealand that my visitor's visa would be readily renewable to allow me to finish my school year in the States, my visa was, as I had been assured, renewed with a very minimum of formalities and certainly no similar "business" letters.

F. D. Finlayson.