Appeal to Fears and Race Prejudice

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 50, 21 May 1927, Page 10

Appeal to Fears and Race Prejudice

ASIATIC MIGRATION PACIFIC INSTITUTE’S VIEWS (From Our Resident Reporter.) WELLINGTON, To-day. The methods of the White New Zealand League and those of the members of the Institute of Pacific Relations on the subject of controlling Asiatic immigration are not in common. In a paper prepared by Dr. Scholefield and Mr. T. D. Hall, and read by Mr./Hall before the Wellington group of the Institute to-night, efforts of the League are likened to the Post Office Square lunch-hour addresses. “The economic situation,” Mr. HaJ said, “is again bringing the question of Asiatic competition into prominence. This time the potato-growers of Pukekohe will take the lead, the immediate cause being the competition of the Chinese market-gardeners. A new league, the White New Zealand League, has been formed, and is conducting its propaganda. Members may hear the type of propaganda used almost any day during the luncheon hour- by visiting the Post Office Square. It is not of the reasoned typ§, but appeals to prejudice and interest.” In dealing with history and the the legislation covering the Asiatic immigration in the Dominion Mr. Hall said that the work accomplished so far must be regarded as preliminary. “Sweeping condemnation of the Chinese race on moral and other grounds, the attribution of inferiority and low civilisation, and the denial of culture,” he said, “will receive no support from competent judges and thinkers.

“Nevertheless in the formation of public opinion, and in securing a driving power for new and more stringent legislation, the commonest method has been that of abuse and the playing upon the fears and the self-interest of sections of the community. “A fresh agitation is arising. It remains to be seen whether the sound and responsible views that have been expressed by the leading men in all parties will receive sufficient support

to enable the matter to be dealt with without offence to the rising Nationalist consciousness of the East. “From the New Zealand point of view it is interesting to note the part played by . the immigration question in settling one of th° problems of relationship between New Zealand and the Home Country. On the one one side there has been the recognition of our rights to decide our own destinies, and on the other side the greater recognition by the Dominion of its place and responsibility in a world system.” ' AV