MODERN CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1931, Page 5

MODERN CHINA

N. Z. POLL TAX RESENTED (By T’elegraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 28. Mr H. F. Von Haast, of Wellington, returned this morning after more than three months’ absence at the Conference of the Institute of Pacific Relations at Shanghai. During the Conference, Air Von Haast was asked .to outline the attitude of the New Zealand Government towards the Continued restriction on the entry of aliens from the East. It was felt uy the Chinese that New Zealand was not a.s friendly towards China as it could be, and that the poll tax was an indignity to which their nation shom'd not he subjected. “The delegates were in sympathy ivj th these sentiments,” said Mr Von Haast,. “and they agreed with rue plea that the poll tax should be »•-. moved. The whole question of racial miscegenation was handled by the Conference, and several interesting examples of inter marriage between Europeans and Chinese were produced, the' result of which had proved eminently satisfactory. •It was- felt by some of the delegates that greater attention should be paid to the scientific investigations til this question, and arrangements ivefe made to have further discussions upon it. -

“It was thought at the Conference that the old idea that half-castes absorb the vices of both races and the virtues of one might be found t 0 be unsound,” Mr Von Haast said; “and j the members of the Conference were agreed that this -subject should be given more scientific analysis.” MAORIS' AND AMERICA. One of the most interesting things mentioned by Mr Von Haast was the attitude of the American delegates toward the Maori renaissance in New Zealand, upon which Mr Von Haast was asked to -speak. The Americans considered that the re-emancipation of the Maoris was merely a “flash in the pan,” because the ultimate fate of all of the native races was to become absorbed by the white races with which they lived. This was the -outlook which determined the policy of the United States towards the natives of Hawaii.” CHINA AND JAPAN. Impressions of troubled China, as viewed by foreign observer, were given by Mr Vcm Haast, who said that the anti-Japanese feeling ran exceedingly high in Shanghai, but it appeared to him that the Japanese were determined to stay in Manchuria. To the New Zealander, whose idea of the Chinese race was formed by association with laundrymen and market gardeners, it was- an education to meet the cultured, well educated Chinese, most of whom had been educated at Harvard University in America, or at English Universities. Mr Von Haast thought It would he a mistake for Britain to think .of abandoning her Hankow concessions while Japan stiH had a concession there. The Chinese did not appear to appreciate the fact that Britain wa-s willing to meet them halfway, and they mistook this spirit of conciliation for a display of weakness.

A strong dictatorhip, he said, was required in China to ensure, first, the establishment of law and order; and then of stable government. “There never was a time in history when China needed the foreigner more than she does- now.” Mr Von Haast continued. “Yet there never was a time when she is more antagonistic to them, and more anxious to get rid of tne-m altogether.”