(Abo Call, July 1938)

APPEAL TO PARLIAMENT

NEW LAWS NEEDED!

“We Are Not Sinners, Savages, and Criminals”

by the Editor

At last the Government of New South Wales has promised to make new laws for Aborigines, and a Bill will come before Parliament in the present Session.

The Aborigines Progressive Association makes a desperate last-minute appeal to Mr. Stevens, Mr. Goilan, Mr. Bruxner, Mr. Lang, and all other Members of Parliament.

WE ASK YOU WHITE GENTLEMEN TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE ABORIGINES THEMSELVES!

We declare that the Aborigines of New South Wales are not savages, sinners, and criminals.

there is no need for anthropologists, clergymen, and police to look after us specially.

Give us a chance! We want education and opportunity for employment.

We want doctors and teachers, and decent “tucker”. We want the chance for our children to become decent respectable members of the Australian community!

LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE ABORIGINES THEMSELVES!

Law-makers of New South Wales, we ask you to STUDY this question before handing us over to anthropologists, clergymen and police, who have been exterminating us for 150 years!

OUR POLICY

The Aborigines Progressive Association, with membership limited to persons of Aboriginal blood and descent, has carefully studied this question, and now appeals to the Government of New South Wales to show a lead to other Australian Governments.

The policy we advocate is as follows. This policy has been endorsed by meetings of Aborigines right throughout country districts and was confirmed at a general meeting of the Aborigines Progressive Association, held at La Perouse on 26th June, 1938.

Please read this carefully, and give your support to the policy of the Aborigines themselves.

We ask for NEW LAWS to provide for:

CITIZEN RIGHTS

Full Citizen Rights for all Aborigines, including the benefit of all social and industrial privileges enjoyed by the white community.

LAND SETTLEMENT

Special Land Settlement Plan for Aborigines, whereby Aborigines who desire to take up land shall be assisted to do so, on similar principles to Soldier Settlers or Immigration Schemes.

EDUCATION

Special education Scholarships for children of Aborigines, to enable them to attend Technical Colleges, Agricultural Colleges, and High Schools, for the purpose of receiving occupational training.

ADMISSION TO CIVIL SERVICE

Admission of an annual quota of young Aborigines to employment in the Civil Service.

ABORIGINAL RESERVES

Retention of the present Aboriginal Reservations as a sanctuary for aged or infirm Aborigines, or for Aborigines who may be unable or unwilling to adapt themselves suddenly to the opportunities of full citizenship.

ADMINISTRATION

Constitution of an Aborigines Administration Board, to consist of three persons nominated by the Government, namely one expert in education, one expert in health, and one expert in land settlement; together with three Aborigines, to be nominated by the Aborigines Progressive Association; and that all Inspectors under the proposed new Act should be persons of Aboriginal blood.

The foregoing is the OFFICIAL POLICY OF THE ABORIGINES PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION for New South Wales, and we appeal to the Government to heed our cry fur justice.

We are not savages, sinners, and criminals.

We do not need anthropologists, clergymen and police!

Give us equality of treatment and opportunity with all other Australian!