THREAT TO N.Z.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 16, 20 October 1942, Page 7

THREAT TO N.Z.

SO,OOO INDIANS IN FIJI

MORF IMMIGRATION URGED "In illo course of years we avill have- Tiulians claiming the right of British subjects to share this land of New Zealand and the Japanese-, urged by economic pressure, a\ ill demand the right to live here too," said Mr W. G. blander, addressing the New Plymouth Rotary Club on the subject, of "Fiji and its; Relationship to New Zealand."' 'Mr Mander traced the progress of (he Indian occupation of Fiji, Indians were first brought there, he said, in order to provide cheap labour. From IS:M onwards a system of sending out indentured Indians to work on the plantations of Mauritius and the West Undies had. developed and proved satisfactory anu the Fiji planters, decided to adopt the system. The first shipload of Indians arrived in F'iji in 187!) and for many years further shiploads were brought into the colony. Free Passage A condition of the indenture system was that after 10 years' service an Indian had the right to a ! free passage back to Jjndia. At first many of the immigrants used this privilege, but later they preferred to remain in Fiji permanently. An increasing number of Avomen were allowed in and as the second, generation grew up and the sexes became more- evenly balanced and, knowing only Fiji as .their home, they lost their desire to return to India. The abandonment of the caste system was an added inducement to stay. "As, the Indians now number over SO,OOO compared with ,1000. whites, you can readily see that if their demands for equal civil rights were granted they would easily control the Avhole political position," stated Mr Mander. The Indians were refusing to remain merely the servant class, "of the nation, tie said. They were a very feound race and Avith the low death rate, due to the healthier conditions; in Fiji, their numbers were- rapidly increasing. As

thov increased lliey demanded a greater .say in the Government of the country and there was no doubt that llie.se demands would receive the J'uil .support of their people in India., Referring to the promises of the Allied Governments that after the war all barriers would be lowered, if not abolished, and that the p.? pies of the earth would be free to move and trade where thej* desired without .restriction. Mir Marnier a .sited how we should be able to 'keep Indians anil Japanese out of New Zealand. Could Ave,, he said, Avith our large tracts of undeveloped land, say that although Ave were unable to use that land ourselves Ave were not going to this Avay lower our standard of living? Outcome Obvious "To me it seems obvious," he said, "that in the course of the years New Zealand will have Indians claiming the right of British subjects to share this land, and, the Japanese, urged by economic pressure. demanding the right to live here. How are we going to prevent this invasion of our hind and the overwhelming of our race? Only by filling it up ourselves.*' 1 ' This could only be done, continued the speaker, by ihe encouraged Immigration of suitable peoples from Great Britain and Europe. In addition to this Ave would have to increase our own birth rate to Avhat it was 40 or 50 years ago, when families of six to 10 children Avere quite common and families of over

10 not unusual. Obviously our own Stock was the best and every thing should be done to encourage an increase in our birth rate. The speaker suggested that this could be done by assisting in the economic life of people "with large families by providing taxation on a sliding scale, by making it illegal for any restriction being placet! on people on account of their haying children, and by making the raising of children an honoured profession.