EDITORIAL.

Thames Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 10357, 4 May 1911, Page 4

EDITORIAL.

IMMIGRATION,

THE AMEIRJGA PROPOSALS.

It is interesting to note,, seeing, that New Zealarfd has teen crying out for moria immigrants—-albeit the Labor party depreciate the cry, and say that there is room, for more, — what America is dbing; in the matter of immigirat'oii. About four years algo an Immigration Commission was appointed', and recently the) rteult t»f the Commission's inquiries wtereinade public. The whole tendency-of. the recommendations; of the Cbmmission is to limit immigration, as far as possible;, to the people who may be likieiy ta prove useful to America., who will help rather than hinder the eooniomiio development of the country, who will ibiecome good! citizens, and who will not lower the standard of living among 1 the - wage-earners*. With this end in vilew fresh restrictions are suggested The existing law deals adequately with "the physically, and morally unfit," tat by agreement with foreign countries it might bei possible to exateit more conclusive evidence that the immigrant is no*, and never , has been,'.a criminal. lElvfery encour!ag|emeint is to be given, by State authority ,to immigrants who -wish to become 'American citizens, and punishment by deportation is proposed foi* those persons who attempt to persuade aliens not to be naturalised. Deportation, indeied, is suggested) as a remedy for many elviils. On the other hand 1, the Commission mjaikes: the proposal, that the difficulties in tha Way of imrorting! sikiJled' lalbour should ibla lessened: by investing the Secretary of Commetrcie and Labour with the power of authorising it in advance, on the application of any person interested. This would Lessen what is often regarded as an injustices. Chinese immigration is to remain forbidden, and) the Japanese question is to stay where it is so long as the existing regulations work satisfajctfcorily. It is further - proposed that "an understanding should te readied with the British Government whereby Bast Indian' lalblourers would ha effectively prevented from j coming to tha United! 'States." Aanerica, perhaps for very |g|ood reasons, wants no more colouredl people of any kind. Lastly, -the Ctammissioiiei"a wish for a "liteirary" test, by demanding of every immigrant that he should! ba alble to read and write in one language. Ait onei blow this alone! would exclude about a thM of the people from Southern and E-is-tern Europe who at present land in the United Stands but the reform might very easily he cheap at the pride!.