THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1907. WILL HE DO IT?

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8375, 8 March 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1907. WILL HE DO IT?

Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, M.H.R., is to be congratulated upon the straightout manner in which he wrote his view upon the Chinese question in a letter which we published in our columns yesterday morning. There is no doubt but that the great bulk of the public are opposed to Chinese immigration, but in this matter, as is the case in regard to political matters generally, the painful apathy that is so generally displayed is the greatest and a grave obstacle in the way of reformers. Therefore, when a prominent man comes forward and speaks with no uncertain sound we cannot let the occasion pass without recording our approbation of his action. We would infinitely rather that those in the community who claim to be politicians expressed their views, although they might be hopelessly in the wrong, than that they played the political acrobat. The apathy of the people and the shuffling and rail-sitting propensities of a number of our politicians are the chief causes of all that there is to regret to-day in the political condition of this country. We are prosperous. Yes. But is prosperity everything? And "prosperity" may be brought about through a variety of causes, and not infrequentlyj|the cause is of an artificial nature. But all this is beside the mark. What we started out to do was to congratulate Mr Hornsby upon expressing a de-< finite opinion upon a certain subject, when others, from whom some expressions of opinion might have been expected, have remained silent. Some people will tell you that they do not believe in allowing the Chinese to come into the country, others will smile—a sort of silly, Cheshire-cat grin—when preventive action is proposed, but how many will say anything or do anything? We welcome Mr Hornsby's letter, because we hope it Will be one of the links in a chain of events that will ultimately result in "a white New Zealand." Mr Hornsby considers that an educational test would be sufficient to achieve the object aimed at, and although, perhaps, not quite agreeing,

we are not prepared to dispute this contention. The chief matter of importance is that it shall be brought home to the mind of Parliament. that it is the wish of the people that no more Chinamen should be allowed to enter the country. When this has been done the devising of the necessary enactment will be a comparatively simple matter —certainly Parliament will do it. The important work that presents itself at the present time is the necessity of impressing upon the people generally, and Parliament in particular, the sacred duty of maintaining "a white New Zealand." Will Mr Hornsby help? We are satisfied that he will, but we think that he could do more. Will he carry the matter through—that is, will he work for it until the necessary act of Parliament is passed? We congratulate Mr Hornsby to-day upon his letterhow many thousands of New Zealanders would congratulate him were the opinion expressed in that letter developed into an act of Parliament?