Benefits from Reserve Labour

The situation must have become an embarrassment to the Government at the end of 1974. It is impossible that a government could fail to notice the movements of three thousand 'holidaying' Tongans, or to notice the financial benefit from a ready reserve work force in a time of industrial expansion.

Both the Tongan and New Zealand Governments let it pass until the economic recession at the end of 1974/5 made it necessary for the problem to be dealt with. But New Zealand, in dealing with a situation she had encouraged, found it most convenient to victimise and terrorise a minority group that found itself in the grips of a social and economic mess. The Law was used to effect South African-type controls on a group of immigrants when the Government thought it convenient to get rid of it. The logic being that the harsher the punishment, the less likely that it happen again.

The overstayers were breaking the law. Therefore, logically, the Law was in its rights to use whatever methods necessary to enforce it. Thus there was the occurence of such behaviour 'alien to New Zealand's way of life'. (Fraser Coleman, Minister of Immigration).

In one well publicized event, two police dogs were used - one was stationed at the back door, and one was brought into the sitting room. When one resident asked a policeman to show a search warrant, one dog was moved forward and began snarling. Policemen threatened to set the dog on anyone who tried to move away.

Immigration officers were present at these raids - and appeared to go along with the methods used. Although it is common for travel agencies to hold passports of migrants, all Tongans found in these raids without a passport were taken into custody and held until documents were found. One group of eleven arrested in August for over-staying pleaded not guilty or entered no plea. Those charged with illegal over-staying were granted bail only on the condition that they each put up a bond of $400, and each found two others to put up $400.