CHINESE IMMIGRATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43116, 11 July 1907, Page 1

CHINESE IMMIGRATION.

Sir Joseph Ward speaking in the House said.it was his firmi conviction that the sentiment of the whole country _ was against the importation of Chinese. He had held that opinion himself for many years. They had a very grave and serious responsibility in the matter. The desire to prohibit Chinese coming in Could not be given effectto -in legislation without- the assent of the British Government.. Up to date he did not know of any self-governing colony 'that had proposed . the absolute prohibition of aliens or Chinese, but what some - countries had done, and what he also was.prepared to do, was to increase the poll tax. That was' fhe only direction in which they could operate for the purpose o-f keeping out a class of people whom every class of the community desired to restrict in every possible, way. When. Chinese had paid the poll-tax they came under the ordinary laws of New Zealand, and must get the protection of those laws. If they tried to absolutely prohibit Chinese they could not get the legislation through, and he thought the proper;course was to increase the polltax to an amount that would of itself, be restrictive and would prevent-a: large number of Chinese' from, coming j into this Country. ° j