Thursday, May 1, 2014

MALAYS AGAIN OUT OF HIDING -Continuing biog of Crusading Editor," Big Jim " Bowditch


Zelman Cowen, later Governor-General, involved . 
 In Canberra, Northern Territory  MHR , Jock Nelson , (ALP) , made representations to  Immigration Minister   Downer  who agreed to stay the  deportation  order of  the Malays for seven days  if the  divers came out of  hiding and  bonds  of  250  pound ( $500) each  were signed by  responsible people .  Legal proceedings would  have  to be started  within  that  period  to  test  the  validity  of   the  deporation  orders.

 
The Stayput Malays  again came  out of hiding . A prominent  legal figure, Zelman Cowen , later  Governor-General of  Australia  ,  became involved  in the  case  . At the time  he was  Professor of  Law  at  Melbourne University  and  made representations  to  Immigration Minister   Downer   on behalf of  the  divers . 

At  another large public  rally   the  people of  Darwin    once more declared  their  support for the men . From  his  report  on the saga , it  seems clear  that the Immigration Department's  special representative ,  H. Gordon  Brooks , sent from Canberra ,  was  not  impressed  with  the  people  of   Darwin. 

Overall, in so  far as it can be judged, the general attitude of the Darwin  community  is one of apathy . It is an issue which is not fully understood , there  have been  no public statements  of  the other side of  the picture and there can be no doubt  that whatever views  are held have been influenced  by the very biased  news  sources available . Some of the more  responsible people of Darwin    privately  expessed support for the Government  , while others   have indicated that  apart from  the controversial  issue involved, “direct action”  outside the law  by a minority group  cannot be   tolerated.  All of such  persons, however, have  been reluctant   to make   any public  statements  in the matter .


He  also stated that  editor Bowditch   had conducted a  number of  Press campaigns against  “ authority ” in the past. In the case of the  Stayput Malays, he wrote  that   the editor’s  stance  had  been undoubtedly influenced  by the fact that he  was    married to a  mixed  blood girl ”. An officer in the  Prime Minister’s  Department wrongly asserted   that  the  NT News had carried on  its campaign against the  government  because its  editor waspartly coloured ”.
 
GALBALLY  JOINS   FIGHT      

It  was announced that  leading Victorian  barrister Frank Galbally  had  been engaged to represent the Malays .  Galbally  subsequently obtained  a  writ  out of the High Court  against   the Immigration Minister  and  the Commonwealth  to block the deporation .  Mainly  based   on  constitutional  grounds,  the  writ : stated  the Malays were British subjects living in  Darwin; sued  Mr Downer ; sought  a declaration  the deportation  order  issued by  Downer  was null, void, illegal  and beyond the powers of  the Minister  and the Commonwealth  Government ; claimed the  men had never been  prohibited  immigrants within  the meaning of the Act;  sought an injunction  restraining the Minister or any other person  from attempting  to deport  or compel  the Malays  to leave Australia without  their  consent.
 

The Malays  flew south  with Bowditch  to confer with  Galbally .  At Melbourne  airport  the  Malays and Bowditch were greeted  on the tarmac   by nearly 200 university students  waving  banners  and singing  For They Are Jolly Good Fellows.  

The Melbourne University  Students’  Representative  Council  arranged  a reception for them   the  following  day .  At  that extraordinary meeting   it  was unanimiously  decided to protest against the deporation  orders  and  a   deputation of six was  appointed to  carry the protest  to the Immigration Minister.  The meeting said the deportion was based on  grounds of racial discrimination  and also  voted to  seek  a change  in the White Australia policy .

Doctor  F.  Knopfelmacher, psychology lecturer at  Melbourne University , said the  White Australia policy  cut across  Christian principles  and Australians   believed they  were  Christian.  The Bible showed , he said, Christ was an   Asian carpenter , the  son of  Asian parents of no fixed abode.  The Malays  thanked Melbourne  people for their support  and Bowditch also addressed the gathering. As  the High Court case was not to be heard  until  February , the  two men were given  employment by  a Melbourne businessman , Mr  David Wang,  in  the   furniture industry

It was the start of the federal election  ,  the  Stayput Malays  became an embarrassing   issue  for the  government  , brought up at  public   meetings of  the  PM  and   Downer  . At  one noisy meeting  , Downer  faced   more than  60 jeering   students , their  faces  blackened with boot polish ,  who  sang to  the tune of   Michael Row the Boat Ashore  :

Old Bob Menzies he ought to know, White Australia,

That  the divers they  shouldn’t go, No more White Australia  ,

Let’s be human, Let’s be  bold, White Australia,

A New  world  arises from  the  old , No  more White  Australia . 

 The  students   handed out pamphlets  urging changes to the White Australia policy .  During  a   speech, Downer said  the government had played a big part in  developing the north west of Australia  and  expanding export industries . An interjector responded: “ Yes, exporting  skin divers to  Malaya.” A report said the Minister lost control  at one stage during the  meeting . Newspapers and various community groups,including the  Australian Council of  Churches, called for the Malays to be  allowed to stay in Australia.  NEXT : Incredible  development sees Bowditch  involved in another  epic  struggle with international  connections .