SOLDIERS CONCERNED

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 236, 30 June 1920, Page 7

SOLDIERS CONCERNED

STOPPAGE OF ADVANCES

PROTEST AGAINST ASIATIC INFLUX By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. Masterton, June 29. A meeting of the Wairarapa branch of the Returned Association waa held to-night to discuss tho stoppage of advances under the soldiers' settlement scheme and Asiatic immigration. Mr. J. A. ■ Cowles,. who presided, said the Government was averse to advancing move money for the purchase of land because they contended that tho ninoteen millions already 6pent had 'had the effect of bumping up land values. The men who had refrained from' buying land from prudential reasons—who were saving their gratuities and taking advantage of tho hijjh wages now offering with a view to buying* land when values went down—would be hard hit if the schemo were discontinued.

Oil tli© motion of tho Chairman, seconded by Mr. J. M'Kenzie, it was resolved: "That this meeting of returned eoldiers, having taken into consideration the statements of the Prime Minister and tho Minister of Lands regarding the finances .of the Dominion and t.ho possible effect of the continuance of the present scheme of advances under the D.S.S. Act in further increasing the price of land, still considers that the only equitable and 'honourable course open to Parliament is (a) to make the benefits of tho D.S.S. Act available to all solflaers at present entitled to these benefits and so to avoid penalising tire many soldiers who havo but recently returned to New Zealand, or have lately been released from hospital, or have lately completed their period of training under the Expatriation Department; and (b) to provide that any Soss incurred in so doing shall be borne by the country i» a whole,"

wnoie, The, question of Asiatic immigration was referred to by Mr. ,T. Hebenton.who pointed out that the Chinese immigrants were seriously affecting returned soldiers. It was oertajnly 'high time that the Government took action. The Premier usually avoided the problem, by 6aying that it would cause international complications, but the question was so serious that Mr. Messey. simply must take it in hand. They saw a Cot of Hindus about Masterton who were'engaged by certain farmers as scrub-cutters. Some people contended that because Indians nad fought beside us in the war 'they were entitled to the freedom of this country, hut it was' an -undeniable fact that no white country could successfully support a black race without detriment to. the existing population. The habits and customs of Asiatics enabled them to live more cheaply than white men, and their influence nere could only Jower the general standard of living and keep the white man out of work. The chairman said that he agreed with the previous speaker, and was in complete accord with any movement that might be made. He was, however, afraid that only a strong right arm in the form of the Navy would stem a movement that was world wide. Even if the poll-tax were raised to £1000 it would not deter Chinese fr<jm coming 'here. Other speakers referred to the case of an Auckland soldier whose tender had been turned down by the King Georgo Hospital authorities in favour of one by a Chinaman. The opinion was expressed that the root of the trouble lay in the disposition of employers to employ the cheapest labour. The following resolution was carried, on the motion of Mr. Hebenton: "That this meeting draw? the attention of the Government to the increasing number of Hindus arriving in Now Zealand, and requests that the Immigration Restriction Act be amended to stop without further delay the immigration of Hindus and Chinese, ond affirm ..the principle of a white New Zealand."