ASIATIC INFLUX

ALARM IN AUCKLAND DISTRICTS PUKEKOHE INVOKES AUTHORITY MARKET GARDENS AT MANGERE. (By Teletraah.) (Special to the "Evening Pott.") AUCKLAND, This Day. The question of what steps shall be taken to check the influx cf Asiatics into the Pukekohe district has occasioned considerable concern in that neighbourhood. The matter was diicussed at a meeting. Mr. G. T. Par. vin, who presided, said that in place* where a few years ego there were no Hindus and Chinese, there were now many of them. In tome they entire, ly controlled'-the retail fruit trade, and at the Auckland markets the buyers of Pukekohe produce were largely Asiatics. The increasing hold by these people was very aerious. Their low and frugal standard of living made it impossible for a European to bring up a family in decency and to i compete with them. ''

Mr. B. J. Campbell said that when Hindus or Chinese competed with Europeans in any line of business it seemed there was only one result--the Europeans went out of that business. He instanced the laundry, fruit, and market garden trades. One solution of the difficulty was for the landowners invariably to refuse to lease or sell land or premises to Asiatics, and for merchants to refuse to deal with them. Mr. A. B. Hatt saia the question was one of protection for the white* race. If the Asiatic influx were not checked now, a serious colour problem would be incurred for future genera, tions. It bad been suggested that it should bo made illegal to lease or sell land to Asiatics in New Zealand, and he thought that pehaps this was a feasible proposition. Young New Zealanders were required to undergo military training to nt them for the defence of their country, for, which an older generation had fought; but the Asiatic! were allowed to enjoy life here without any responsibility for the defence of the country. He thought they should at least be required to pay a special tax, a defence tax. The fact of Hindus being British subjects was .a phase touched on by Mr. J. J. Coady. They were in reality a subject race, he said, and while they should be treated §ympathctieally until they were capable of controlling their own destiny, they should not be allowed to oust the sons of tho original British stock. Mr. M. Cronin said that owing to the difficulty of getting labour, some landowners had leased areas to Hindus. Unfortunately, the, flrst to do ,thU were »mon,g. the leading farmers in the district; but doubtless they did not realise the dangerous precedent they were setting. He had: brought the matter to the attention of tfio Primo Minister, and he re?d Mr. Coa'tes's reply, which said that owing to the reluctance of land-owners to give particulars of the land they had leased to Asiatics, reliable stutistics could not be obtained; but it appeared that in the Bombay, Pukckohe, and Puni districts over 200 acres were now leased to Asiatics. The matter was one to which' Cabinet would give careful consideration. It was'resolved to appear to landowners and business men in tho Pukekohe district to refrain from dealing with Asiatics. It was further resolved to ask the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce to ask other chambers to make, ft united request to the Government for legislation making_ it illegal to lease or sell laud to Asiatics, and requiring that immigrants from Asiatics countries be of a much higher social standard than the class now coosinff iß»' » • ■ " , The meeting resolved to form itself into a "White New Zealand League. Pukekohe is. not the only district m which "peaceful penetration by Asiatic market gardeners is being increasingly felt. During the past ten Years Chinese have leased more and more land at Mangere, right at Auekland'* back (loor, and last week the first dale of freehold was reported. This is stated to be a 40-aere block, carrying «. dwelling of four ijporos, and the price was given at £4000, or ' £160 per acre. While land for grazin* in-Msmgere may not be worth a rent of more than £2 to £4 an acre the Chinese are prepared to pay £10 and £30 for it for garden purposes.A European some years ago was offered the freehold of the farm, but the price seemed too high, as he estimated he could not rent it for more tßan fean acre. Almost immediately • Chinese leased the property at ; £lo an acre, and appears to have prospered on the block. So far aa can be JWrned, £30 10s an acre it the highest rent paid at Mangere.