INFLUX OF ASIATICS
RESENTED BY RETURNED
SOLDIERS
THE HINDU PROBLEM
The question of Asiatic immigration was discussed at last night's meeting of the Wellington Returned. Soldiers' Association. Mr, J. M'Kenzie moved: "(1) That this association affirms the principle of a white New Zealand, and requests the Government to take immediate steps to stop tho invasion .of this country by coloured people, alien in race, language, and religion, otherwise we will soon he faced with n problem similar to that confronting the United States of America and the wnit<; colonists of Africa; (2) that the association also requests tho repatriation, of ail Chinese and Indians who have como to this country since 1914; (a) mat tho association suggests that for tho future the number of Indians allowed t6 remain here shall not exceed the number of New Zeaiandeis settled in India." Mr. M'lCcnzio said tho question of Asiatic immigration was likely. to become a 6erious thing for this country '1' steps were not taken to check it. Since the beginning of the yenr, 500 Chinese and 300 Hindus had landed at Auckland and many Chinese were now bringing their wives with them. Tlip springmgup of a race of New Zealand-horn -Asintics would be a bad thing for the Dominion. The speaker claimed that Asiatic workers on tho Hand had made life "a hell" for the white people, whoso lives were held forfeit on many an occasion. The Hindus in Fiji now numbered 60,000. and they outnumbered the native population. If the ports of the country were to be opened to the Asiatic influx ,the time would not be very far distant before the Dominion would he swamped The question ot issue" was one of racial purity, and the peopl* should lake immediate steps to prevent any more Asiatics coming here. Ilr. Jlassey had pointed out that there were difficulties in regard to tho Hindus, who were Britihh citizens, and many of whom had fought for Britain. "I doubt whether one Indian in this country has ever seen military service," continued Mr. M'Konzic; "in fact, during the year when our men were going away Hindus were coming : g\to the country." The Hindus and Chinese in the country had had "a good run" already, and flier should be repatriated.
Mr. A. Fair: Would you refund tjie poll-tax to Chinese? Mr. M'Kcnzio: "I would refund the poll-tax to get rid of them; it would be a cheap price to pay for the purity of the race." The speaker added that, in his opinion, the number of New Zcalanders settled in India should regulate the number of Hindus allowed to come to this country, Mr. A. B. Sievwright, in seconding the motion, said that New Zealnndcrs had fought against domination by a foreign Power, but the Dominion was now up against a forco which by "peaceful penetration," was endeavouring to eject the people out of this country. One never knew when war would break out in the Kast, and the country should ever bo ready to defend itself against any possible aggression from that quarter. Mr. R. B. Bell supported the motion, oven though ho thought it might be a little too sweeping. Hindus were British citizens, no doubt, but something should be done toi check their influx because, already, the position was becoming serious in the King Country, and, in WcU lington, too. Stress should be laid on the economic side of the question, and the nublic should consider carefully whether it was wise to deal off a Chinaman because he might be a Id. or 2d. Hieaper than a white greengrocer and fruiterer.
Mr. Kelly stated that in Australia thero were 36,000 Asiatics, of whom 21,000 wero Chinese and 6(100 Hindus. In the northern parts of Australia Hindus and Chinese had settled on_ the land, and were married to Australians, They wer<> also largely interested in tho "sly-<rrog" trade, and in twelve months few, if any, of these offenders had been committed to prison. Mr. M. Badger said it did not redound to tho credit of the citizens of Wellington that so many of the shopkeepers in tho main streets were Chinamen, Perhaps it hiight be possible to allow only Indians who had seen military service to come into the Dominion, but no others should be admitted. Mr. M. S. Galloway said that the best way to end the Asiatic menace was for peonlo to refuse to deal with aliens. The motion was carried unanimously.
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 289, 31 August 1920, Page 6
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742INFLUX OF ASIATICS Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 289, 31 August 1920, Page 6
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