ALIEN IMMIGRANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 259, 8 November 1897, Page 2

ALIEN IMMIGRANTS.

THE NEW BILL

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

The Alien Immigration Restriction Bill is a measure framed largely on the lines of the Asiatic Restriction Bill of 1896. It limits the number of Asiatics to be brought here to one to every 200 tons of tonnage of the vessel bringing them. Before they are allowed to land, each Asiatic has to pay a poll tax of £ 100, for which the captain of the vessel is made responsible under heavy penalties. Asiatics already in the colony and not naturalised before the passing of the Bill or not British subjects by birth come under the provisions of the Act, so far as the poll tax of £100 and the penalties for non-payment thereof are concerned. No Chinese are to be allowed to become naturalised after the passing of the Act. The Act is not to apply to Her Majesty's land and sea forces, nor to the officers and crew of any ship of war of any Asiatic Government, nor to any person duly accredited to New Zealand by or tinder authority of the Imperial or any other Government, nor to any person of European or Jewish extraction, nor to any .British subject being1 a native of that portion of Her Majesty's dominions known as the Indian Empire, nor to any master or teacher of the

Christian religion, duly accredited to the satisfaction of the Colonial Secretary, nor to such other persons or class of persons as the Governor by Order in Council from time to time exempts from operation of this Act.