PROBLEMS OF RACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1938, Page 6

PROBLEMS OF RACE

DISCUSSED BY EMPIRE DELEGATES DIVISIONS IN CANADA. WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY. (Recd This Day, 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. At the Empire Relations Conference, on the question of a White Australia policy, there was general agreement that the policy was based on economic and not on racial or biological prejudices and that it was essentially a national and not a political policy. On behalf of Canada, it was stated that there were definite racial problems as between the people of purely British stock and the French-Canad-ians. Only fifty per cent of the population of Canada was of British descent and the tendency was for that population to decline. From the economic point of view, the delegates were, told frankly that Canada was not so dependent upon Britain as were some of the other Dominions and trade with the United States of America actually was more important to Canada than her trade with Britain. Upon the question of Canada’s attitude, in the event of war, it was stqted that it would be difficult to persuade the French-Capadians to take part in any conflict against a Catholic enemy country or to/ endorse any alliance with Russia. Nevertheless, Canada was developing an Air Force, as a strong measure of defence. The decision that the conference should be held in camera was closely followed and at the end of the sessions Dr G. V. Portus acted as conference spokesman.