NEW ZEALAND—A WHITE MAN'S COUNTRY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8440, 11 May 1907, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND—A WHITE MAN'S COUNTRY.

SIR JOSEPH WARD SPEAKS PLAINLY. ALIENS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 10. The following is supplied by the New Zealand Government:— LONDON, May 9. Speaking at the Imperial Conference, to-day, on the motion of Mr Gladstone for uniformity of naturalisation, Sir Jospeh Ward said that so long as the Legislation proposals of the Imperial Government did not take away the right of New Zealand to control naturalisation he would not oppose it, but he would not agree to any legislation that would admit of aliens after five years' residence in England being admitted to New Zealand without the New Zealand Government having full control. He did not wish to reflect on any nation-, ality or race, but New Zealand was, a t white man's country, and h,e was. determined to do all in power io keep it so. He foresaw \h.at 'coloured races obtaining in England rQ9v fe§ admitted jn numbers to Ssnglantf, and, this was a Hiv-sb objectionable feature, He would not consent;, under any circumstances to euqh a pplicy. He said New Zealand contained a populatiun of Europeans and Maoris, living under the best conditions and circumstances possible, and it was essential that the children of the European population should be kept free from Intermarriage with alien rages, and from contamination in the future. S~ ea 'K_" ing on the question of Vhe British Government guarding *.hp facificv Sir Joseph toured that "New Zealand was under the shadow ofa great country, the United States, that did not fly the British flag, though it was cosmopolitan, and he had no obI to them as a country. On tJis he felt most friendly disposed towards them. A still future development in the Pacific was the opening of the Panama Canal, and increased traffic WitJl Canada, Australia and.'New Zealand rendered it essential that the British Government should not relax its efforts to keep the point of vantage in the Pacific Islands. He depreciated the loss of Samoa, which possessed a splendid harbour, and was controlled by another nation. New Zealand had control of a number of the Pacific Islands. Britain's policy should be to ensure th£ acquisition of the remainder, and he urged all matters and conventions being submitted to Australia and New Zealand beffine settlement by the Imperial Government, He referred to the New Hebrides, It was certain that if the colonies had been first consulted the position would be entirely different.

Sir J. G, Ward's resolution in connection with aniversal penny postage was carried after discussion. He urged the British' Postmaster-General to progress on wider lines, • It was ridiculous that letters c6st 2Jd across the Channel to France, a distance of 21 miles, While between England and New Zealaiki either way it was a penny. Mr Buxton agreed with the resolution, conditionally that England should not be pressed for time to bring it into operation. His sympathies were with the proposal. The recent concessions of England meant a reduction of £l9O r OGO, and univeral penny postage meant a further reduction of £450,000. He referred to the work of the Postal. Congress at Rome in complimentary terms, and hoped Australia would come into line with the other portions of the Empire. Sir J. G. Ward replied that it was undesirable that the post office should be regarded as a taxing machine. He was satisfied that a recovery of the loss would occur similar to Canada and New Zealand when both had adoped the, penny postage. In connection with Mr Deakin's resolution for a surtax of one per cent, on all imports of the Empire, Sir J. G. Ward expressed his doubts as to the wisdom of the policy. He preferred the necessary amount being voted by Parliament on the Estimates. To commence a surtax of one per cent, meant increasing it considerably within a limited period. One per cent, would produce only £20,000 a year, and if called upon to join with England and Canada for the purposes of mail services, development of the reduction of cables, and a concession in Canal charges, it would mean two and a half or even five per cent. He disliked the system which had, in his opinion many disadvantages. Sir J. G. Ward supported the proposal of Australia for a mint in Australia, for silver coinage, and asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to allow New Zealand, to follow the same course if it was thought desirable'. He did not think New Zealand was likely to undertake it at but wanted the same conditions as Australia. The Chancellor of the Exchequer concurred, and was willing to concede to Australia' and New Zealand independent action if they so elected. The swearing-in as Privy Councillors of Sir J. G. Ward, Dr. Jameson, General Botha' and Mr Moore, to-day, was an interesting ceremony. In addition to the King, there were also present:— The Prince of Wales, Duke of Connaught, Marquis of Ripon, Lord Elgin, and a number of Privy Councillors. Sir J. G. Ward proceeded to Scotland at midnight.