As the end of the war approached, and problems of rehabilitation became more urgent, attention was focussed by some sections of the community on the existence in our midst of a group to whom we may refer as "Refugees." If it is necessary to define terms, we will use the word "Refugee" in the strict etymological sense of "persons escaped to a foreign country from religious or political persecution." From 1933 onwards, many Germans (so called), Austrians, and nationals of other countries that had come under Nazi domination, had fled, and were received by the democratic countries as refugees. The grant of asylum to political refugees is a practice that has a tradition, and New Zealand fell into line. To what extent we will examine later.

It is not within the scope of this enquiry to survey the long history of refugees. The problem has existed throughout the ages, and in varying circumstances. There must be a distinction made, however between refugee movements involving a return of vast numbers of nationals to their own country (as happened in the 1914 war), and a flight from intransigent persecution, to another sovereign state. In the latter case "the refugee finds himself deprived of legal protection, mutual support, the access to employment, and the measure of freedom of movement which happier mortalstake as a matter of course." Unless some steps were taken to protect them, such refugees would remain in a vacuum. We will endeavour to establish that it becomes a matter of public policy to stabilise the status of such a group. We suggest that the easiest approach is the assumption of full obligations in return for full. privileges. The refugees New Zealand have always been willing to assume the full obligations of citizenship. Refugee doctors volunteered for military service. At the request of the Government, they have practised in outlying and inaccessible districts. They have been subject to manpower restrictions and directions, and offered their services freely to Home Guard and E.P.S. organisations. What have we done in return to grant them concomitant privileges?

Objections that have been raised are:—

Both of these objections can be answered.