ASIATIC IMMIGRANTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 202, 21 May 1920, Page 7

ASIATIC IMMIGRANTS

0 (To the Edtor.i Sir,—The influx of Hindus and Chinese to this country 'has of late caused many comments and protestations. That this matter is of great importance to the peoplo of New Zealand is very clear, and so far as the public eye can see no steps are being taken to control suoh an undesirable 6tate of affairs. The ques--tion, of course, from an Imperial point of view -presents difficulties, as -the Hindu claims British citizenship, but-every citizen of the British Empire must adr mit the necessity for each part of the Empire passing such laws as will advance the standards of morality, health, and efficiency from a productive standpoint. The whole question therefore can be answered in my opinion by the following suggestions, which are based on observations, of Hindus and Chinese in other countries:— Raise, to a- hlglter standard than is demanded of the European immigrant, the required educational ability, physical standard, and personal monetary means of all Hindus and Chinese wiho apply to enter New Zealand. Require that they shall produce satisfactory evidence gf thoir. capability to carry on a suitable trade or profession (with the exception of women aiul children), and in the case of youths that they intend following sneh trades, etc., and that they have undergone.training in the same. These particulars, together with evidence of satisfactory moral standard and reliability, should be signed in the case' of Hindus by a District Magistrate 'of tihfi Government of India, and for Chinese by a British Consul. I am of the opinion that if thoie requirements were insisted upon the result would be tho exclusion of the undesirable element of the Taces referred tq and a decrease in the numbers arriving it New Zealand ports . Thero would also be some degree of assurance that our criminal classes were not being added to and the conditions of our slumß made worse—l am, etc., .RETURNED SOLDIER.