IMMIGRATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1920, Page 5

IMMIGRATION.

THE ASIATIC PROBLEM. j EDUCATION TEST REJECTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House went into committee this evening on the Immigration Restriction Amendment Bill. Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) asked why the definition "British or Irish parentage" was used in clause five in connection with immigrants. Did it mean that residents of other parts of the Empire were not to be regarded as British? The Premier replied that he proposed to move the deletion of the words "or Irish" in the clause. On clause four, Mr. H. E. Holland (Labor leader) moved an amendment imposing a sixth standard educational test in English and arithmetic in lieu of present educational test on immigrants from non-British countries, and that the number of Asiatics entering New Zealand be limited to one hundred in any one year; also the present polltax oh Chinese to be repealed. The Premier said the amendment would mean the total exclusion -of Chinese, as not one in a thousand of these, or of Indians, could pass a sixth standard test. Further than this, Indians belonged to the British Empire, and such stringent discrimination would be taken by them as an insult. Mr. Massey said the Bill was in the nature of an experiment. He believed that when it had been in operation some time they could see how it acted. He thought it would be unwise to repeal the poll-tax at present. The amendment was divided into two parts, and a division on the first part, dealing with an educational test, resulted in its defeat by 40 votes to 17. The second portion of the amendment, repealing the poll-tax on Chinese, and limiting the number of Asiatics admitted to New Zealand in one year to one hundred. was then discussed. Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington South) asked if Chinese could come into New Zealand by way of Samoa. The Premier replied that, they could not. The Premier pointed out that no one of foreign nationality could enter New Zealand without the Minister's permission, which would only be given after the fullest inquiry regarding a wouldbe immigrant's fitness. The amendment was rejected by 54 votes to 7. Mr. Holland moved to amend section two of clause six to provide that exemptions shall in mi case be made to enable an influx of cheap labor from any country outside during periods of industrial trouble. The amendment was lost by 30 votes to 20. In clause 9, Mr. M. J. .Savage (Auckland West) moved to add the words "hut the number of Asiatics so admitted shall not exceed 110 in any given year." Tito amendment was lost, hy 34 votes to 20. In clauses 14 and 15 the words "every person of British or Irish birth or parentage" were omitted, on the motion of the Premier. The Bill was reported from committee. read n. third time, and passed, and the House rose at II o'clock.