Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1928. AMERICA’S IMMIGRANTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 156, 13 April 1928, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1928. AMERICA’S IMMIGRANTS.

The United States immigration quota, the reduction of which has been urged in the House of Representatives, was introduced as a means of checking the inflow of unwelcome immigrants. The quota provisions of that law do not apply to the two countries— Canada and Mexico—that supplied the largest number of migrants. The importance of the quota lies in its application to the countries of Europe and the Hear East. Its increased stringency was aimed at Mediterranean lands chiefly, whence went to America for many years a disproportionately and dangerously large influx of people ill equipped for intelligent citizenship. In addition to Canada and Mexico, there are other lands in the western hemisphere unaffected by the quota.— Newfoundland, San Domingo, Haiti, Cuba, and the independent territories of Central and South America. There is excepted also, although in quite a different way, a large Asiatic region: the peoples of this region, including China, Japan, India, Ceylon, Malaysia and some other countries, are excluded by special legislation, save as they enter as students, merchants, officials, and others travelling merely for pleasure. Before the new quota provisions came into operation, the records showed that 75 per cent, of immigrants entered! from Southern and eastern Europe, 21 per cent, from northern and western Europe, and the remaining four per cent, from elsewhere. It is claimed for the new law that it has practically reversed the figures, 75 per cent, entering from northern and western Europe, 12 per cent. from southern and eastern Europe, and 13 per cent, from elsewhere. In its intended negative effects, the enforcement of the revised quota has apparently achieved itsi end, without reducing the total volume of the stream ■of immigration. The restrictive legislation, nevertheless, has not accomplished all that was expected of it. What was hoped was a stimulation of • the influx from all the countries of the western hemisphere as the European immigrant tide ebbed. In the aggregate, this has happened; but if the influx from Canada and Mexico had not - swollen enormously there would have been a marked total decrease. A 1 very sharp decline has taken place in the instance of the West Indies. Thence, including Cuba but not including Porto Rico, which is a part of the national territory, it was once no uncommon thing for over 10,000 people to migrate a year to the United States. In 1914 the figure was nearly 14,50,0. Since 1 the present law retarded the European influx the migrants from this free region have decreased to less than a third of the previous number. This decrease, combined with a similar experience in the flow from South America, has awakened some apprehension. It relates to the supply of labour, ever the dominant interest, in connection with American immigration, from the old days of the policy of an absolutely open door down to the recent attempts to pick and choose among competing sources of supply. What is obtainable under the quota restrictions, even where, as in the instance of the Irish Free State, the quota is high, is not sufficient for a sustained development of American industry. There must be a steady accession from the other countries of the western hemisphere. It is not. coming, save from Canada and Mexico. The Canadian influx is socially welcome, hut it is not of the industrial type most needed. Iliat type enters from Mexico, but it is less desirable socially; and means are being sought to restrain its flow accordingly- 1