A.-2b

1905. NEW ZEALAND.

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. DESPATCH RELATIVE TO THE INTRODUCTION OF CHINESE LABOUR INTO THE TRANSVAAL COLONY.

Laid upon the Table by Command of His Excellency. (New Zealand, No. 12.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 26th January, 1905. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 92, of the 10th November,* forwarding a resolution passed by the Legislative Council and House of expressing regret at the introduction of Chinese labour into the Transvaal without the express sanction of the white population by vote having been first obtained or Eesponsible Government being granted. 2. A similar resolution was passed by the Federal Legislature of the Australian Commonwealth last year, the reply to which is contained in my despatch to the Governor-General of Australia, published at page 3 of the Parliamentary Paper Cd.-2104, of which a copy is enclosed. 3. His Majesty's Government have never questioned the right of the Legislature of New Zealand to express their views with regard to the subject of the resolution, but they adhere to their opinion that, in the exceptional condition of things existing at the time -when the Transvaal Labour Importation Ordinance was passed, the question of the introduction of Chinese labour was one of such extreme urgency that it impossible to await the establishment of Eesponsible Government, and that no referendum could have been taken without the provision of electoral machinery and the definition of electoral qualifications, which would have involved long delay. 4. The action taken by His Majesty's Government was that which they believed to be in accordance with the views of the great majority of the white population of the Transvaal, and was in harmony with their policy of treating the Transvaal as a self-governing colony, so far as its internal affairs are concerned, where no Imperial interest is involved. I have, &c, ALFEED LYTTELTON. Governor the Eight Honourable Lord Plunket, X.C.V.0., &c.

* A.-l, 1905, No. 16,