IN THE EAST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2163, 11 April 1908, Page 3

IN THE EAST.

THE ASIATIC QUESTION A NEW ZEALANDER’S IMPRESSIONS. Mr. H. F. Toogood,' who was a candidate for Christchurch East at last general election, anil who is now ill Rangoon, writing to tho editor of tlio “Lyttelton Tinios” on February 15 says:—“Tho East lias much to teach tlio colonial, and I homo J. am learning my lessons well. So Jar, I liavo seen tho most active and progressive countries, and I fool that I know next to nothing of them and their peoples beloro. I hope Now Zealand i snot slackening off in the matter of Asiatic restriction.. Tho Chiniso aro our most dangerous foo. They aro capable and so persistent that they overcome almost any difficulties or perform any duty honestly and well. Ono. finds them carrying out responsibles duties in Signaporo, and in tlio Malay States, and in Rangoon, which in our country entitles a man to a highly-respected position. Bank clorlcs, shipping managers, building contractors, shop assistants, in fact all positions except top ones. They aro exceedingly polite and polished, without being obsequious)' and talk most excellent English. Tho market-gardener, the small shop-keep-er,- or tho coolio can bo mot by our present restrictions, but wo must bo warned of the British-born Chinese, tlie Singaporean, Ho is most dangerous, because ho is so capablo. Of course I have the liigliest respect for him in this country. He is the salvation of Burma and the Straits Settlements, especially tho Straits, wliero lie does all the work. In Burma ho is as yet of small importance. His day in Burma is coming, for ho finds in this land peoplo who look on him as a cousin.

~Tho Burmese aro quite distinctly like the Chinese in appearance, and the women freely marry Chinese. Tho Burma-Chinose offspring is an improvement on both races. The question which will worry us is tho Imperial one. Tho time has now arrived to mark off definitely, tlio bounds of tho British Empire. It appears to mo that the Asiatic British Empire must ho fenced off from tho rest. To-day tlie hateful Hindoo Babu 'is swelling his chest with the prrase “our British Empire,” and demanding equality, fraternity, and all other] qualities granted to us b.y our cousins within tlio British Empire. “To my mind it has beconio imperative to got some definite soundings on this matter, and to know exactly whoro our ship of State lies an this troublesome sea of Imperialism. Tho one rook I would like to mark on tlio chart is the British Asiatic; for to-day it seems to be lighted, while in all truth tlio apparent light is a mirage above the rock. In other words, it is time we knew the reahtivo value of tho self-governing colonies and tho Crown colonies. Quito recently, at meetings held in Madras, Bombay, and Culcutta, the tenor of tho speeches distinctly indicated tlie feeling of equality which the Babu lias in his chest of breast. The Transvaal lias set tho question, and I am watching with absorbing interest for the answer. India is our stumbling block for preferanco. Once it is definitely decided that there is a. British Empire and an Asiatic Empire quite distmee pointsotaoin ctaoi netao iet- edtaoin and apart except at the common meeting point, London, we can answer a great objection to preferanco raised by Imperial authorisation at tlie last conference.

“The more I see of the Asaitie tlie more determined do I feel to do my very best to keep my country white. Perhaps tlie “Times” would hero me consider other questions before this one, but it is a most vital question to us. Our impeialism depend® upon it; our very homes depend on it. “A\ 7 e must ’keep New Zealand white at-all costs, or abandon it. There can be no half measures. Half measures would only' mean that we would loso our half very short time or that we would need a standing army to enforce our half. Tho ono comfort to me is that we in New Zealand have long ago gripped this Asiatio question properly. It now remains to educate the British peoples as a whole; it is better to loso India than have India swanm the Empire. The difference between India and New Zealand is so enormous, the social mass so great, that New. Zealand would bo abkoljately andl completely drained socially were any There is a connection, but it run tliroLondon. AA 7 e have to watch who handles tho valve. S ofar they have allower us to have a. stop-cock the our end. Will they some day ask ns to toko the stop-cock away and work the wholo steam in London? It seems as if there was a persistant demand for such an arrangement.”