WHITE AUSTRALIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1926, Page 3

WHITE AUSTRALIA.

INVESTIGATIONS IN NORTH. SYDNEY. Jan. 5. Is Australia really white? was apparently the question put to himself bv a newspaper correspondent who has recently been investigating conditions in the far north of the continent. There still exists an impression among many Australians that in the tropical north, White Australia Is only as inspiration, and that the yellow man is tenaciously maintaining the foothold he gained in the days of indiscriminate settlement. Beyond Cooktown lies the far north of Queensland, an area double the size of Belgium, controlled by three or four police officers and a staff of blacktrackers. From time to time there are rumours of a steady Japanese infiltration through the unguarded back door of Australia, the Achilles heels of the Commonwealth. The correspondent’s investigations led him to the belief that these runniors are incorrect, that the tide of yellow in the north is ebbing. The 300 or 400 miles of indented, isolated coastline from Cooktown north to the extremity of Cape York is a happy hunting ground for the far-off armchair alarmist, who imagines Japanese being landed secretly from luggers on this cnasr. to shoulder their swags to the nearest township to complicate further the racial tangle of tropical Australia. The correspondent found that, of all the races lending e >l- - to racial variety of Northern Queensland, the Japanese, outside the pearling grounds, is the least considerable element. “The closer one pursues this w-ily trespasser,” declares the writer, “the more spectral he becomes. . One of the surprises that awaits the newcomer to the north is the actuality of White Australia there.” HARD ROW TO FORTUNE.

'l’lie correspondent found that a fortunate few yellow men had by thrift or heads for business, established themselves in trade. For the others, white labour lias left little more than the growing and hawking of vegetables, a table in a tailor’s shop, or a job as hotel cook. Braced with the tonic of high wages, the white man will tackle any other job that may be offering whatever may he the temperature, and to how wood and draw water is as fair a road to fortune as any that the fa r north offers. The correspondent admits that there has lieen collusion at various times between aboriginals and Japanese to secure for the latter half-caste girls, but gives an assurance that the traffic lias now been suppressed.

“It is natural to ask.” he says, “what assurance* can he given that the suppressed traffic may not he started again. The allegation ol a peaceful penetration of Japanese settlers into northern Queensland ’is an improbable story without a scrap ot evidence adduced so far to justify any alarm. 11 such scares were not dangerous in a world still suffering from the nervous irritability of war strain. it would merit no more than the decision it r< - ce i vos in the north. Bui that, an alien race should have the frccd ini ol the territorial waters and coast ol Northern Australia to an extent that is permitted by iio other nation off its shores, without strict oversight, .s_ a matter of grave concern. It is not the presence of the Japanese pearl-fishers that is the source of danger, hut the absence of any systematic surveillance and the indifference it bespeaks. The generality of the Japanese may go about their licensed and lawful occasions harmlessly, hut the easiness to do ill deeds has already made ill deeds done, and opportunity still tempts. The recruiting of blacks lor the pearl luggers is now permitted under regulations which proscribe the conditions of service and the rates of pay, hue

from the time the lilacklelhiw ships until the time lie is returned to port and draws liis wages deposited Wth the harbour-master, he is a blank on official records. Altogether there is a vagueness about the relations ol Japanese and hlaeklellow on the far northern coast which suggests that., to (he many crimes against the aborigine for which Australians owe atonement.. may have to be added at the present day that ot neglect. A periodical police patrol would go lar to remove this suspicion. II extended to the pearling grounds, it would ho a salulory .reminder to the alien >\- pluiters of their wealth Lliat they are still in Australian territory.”

TLie correspondent also touches upon the various Chinatowns ol the coastal cities, such as Cairns, Cooktown, limis fail, and Atherton, blit, he found them mostly in a state of decaying squalor bespeaking the disappearance front Fite north of the old yellow population. Where the Britisher or Australian has not pushed him out. the Chinaman is being ousted by vigorous Greek, Italian, Maltose, or some other Southern European nationals who love to live in community settlements.