IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 3 September 1913, Page 4

IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS.

Discussing the immigration problem I before the Canadian Club in Vancouver, Mr H. H. Stevens, M.P., said: The time has arrived for us to be more careful in extending citizenship. In 1912 we 402,482 immigrants, Of these 150,542 were British, the best type of immigrant. The American incomers numbered 139,009 of whom about 55 per cent, were farmers in good circumstances. The American immigrant must be taught to respect our laws and,custpms. Last . year 112,881 immigrants came from Europe. Of these, 40,000 were Southern Europeans, and most of them of an undesirable type. This class of immigrant should,be restricted very rigidly. The Japanese are restricted to 450 annually by the new treaty. They object to some of our regulations. They themselves exclude Chinese coolies and exclude people from all countries with which they 1 have no treaty. They demand ten yeans' residence before one can be nationalised, and then only by the permission of the Government. That is their right, and we have the same right.—(Applause.) About 7500 Chinese entered Canada last year. This is altogether too many. The Hindu immigration presents grave problems. They are subjects, but not citizens of the Empire. They want to bring in their wives. I ask which wife? There are 9,000,000 giri, wives in India under the age of 15, and 2,000,000 under the age of 11. 'Hundreds of these girl wives have husbands ranging from 30 to 80 years of age. If a Hindu sends for his wife, he might' bring four girls as his daughters, but who, in reality are his wives'. The Hindu,' is not an agriculturist. He lives in large centres. He is not a pioneer. He has done'nothing for civilisation.