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Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1920, Page 4

OUR COLORED BROTHER. Hitherto the most strenuous opponents to the introduction of colored labor have been members of the Labor Party, here as in Australia and Canada, but according to the report of its proceedings on Wednesday evening, appearing in our yesterday's issue, the New Plymouth branch of the Labor Party would welcome its yellow and black brother. The Hindu, it was remarked, is a British subject, and as such is entitled to the privileges and protection of Britain; in other words, that he has as much right here as the white Britisher. We do not know whether other branches of the Labor Party have been converted of late to the same view, but, if so, a rather interesting situation is opened up. Instead of resisting, as heretofore, the advent of the yellow and brown men, we will henceforth have them welcomed with opened arms by their fellow white workers. No doubt the latter will insist upon the colored emigrants joining their unions and socialistic, organisations, which may take in hand their regeneration and uplift. We are told that the black and yellow races are in a semi-civilised state only through their environment, and it may, therefore, be taken for granted that in their new environment, and under the tutelage of the labor leaders, they will soon reach the intellectual and social standard of their European brethren, and certainly prove loyal unionists and keen socialists. This condition of affairs contemplates the renunciation of former fixed principles on the part of Labor in New Zealand, and the display of a spirit of universal brotherhood and altruism that certainly has not been a marked characteristic of Labor dn the past. However, those outside the charmed circles of Labor may be forgiven if they evince scepticism. It is hard to believe that Labor as a whole will welcome the introduction of numbers of yellows or blacks who may later enter into competition with it in the labor and other markets, or that Labor would suffer a piebald New Zealand. Already there are altogether too many Hindus tafeing up their quarters in New Zealand, and entering into competition with whites. Indeed, the increasing number of blacks arriving is becoming a serious menace, and the matter must bs dealt with soon, or the consequences may be serious. Fellow members of the human family and of the British Empire they may be, but we don't want them here, with their lower standard of living and primitive morals. We know what has taken place in the United States, the lessons of which are plain, and have been taken to heart by the Labor Party in Australia, which has declared for a White Australia, and we would be doing a huge wrong to posterity in these fair islands if we of this generation ever allowed inferior races to come in ad lib. and mingle with and pollute our own. The test is: Would any of those who talk so glibly of allowing his black or yellow brother to come here like him for a .brother-in-law or a son-in-law?