GOOD SETTLERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 214, 10 September 1928, Page 8

GOOD SETTLERS.

PRAISE FOR JAPANESE. AUBTBAIIA BHOUUD WELCOME THEM. ARCHDEACON'S OPINION. "There are 180,000 Japanese in the Hawaiian Islands, and they are living together in perfect harmony. There are no strikes over there, and no upheavals of any kind. Although on occasion there is a certain amount of drunkenness, caused by illicit liquor traffic, still the Japanese are a law-abiding people who are very much respected. They do not inter-marry, and are just as loyal to their country of adoption as they are to their homeland, and I can say without hesitation that I would like to see them populating our waste lands of our great Northern Territory in Australia," said Archdeacon Snow, of the South Australian diocese of Willochra. He is a through passenger by the Aorangi, and has spent four months in the Hawaiian Islands. "They Keep to Themselves." "Japan is not the slightest menace to America," Archdeacon Snow continued, "and her people make good citizens. They are most exclusive, and keep to themselves. That in my opinion solves the question that is usually advanced that the fact of inter-marriage lowers the standard of civilisation. Personally I think we should foster a spirit of friendship with the Japanese. They, like us, are an insular nation and occupy islands. Their population is rapidly, and they are pressed for room. Where are they to go? If we in Australia can, by some happy circumstance, find a means of offering them a place to rest, then it would be to our advantage to allow them to develop our Northern Territory and make that part of Australia productive. I repeat, because of their high standard of civilisa-* tion and their business acumen, there need be no fear of social consequences." Archdeacon Snow mentioned that the original settlers from Japan, who were plantation workers, still entertained a strong affection for their native land. And even succeeding generations, although highly Americanised, entertained immense feelings for Japan and Japanese traditions. This was emphasised during the visit of the Japanese Training Squadron. On that occasion Prince Takamatsu spoke to 150,000 people, and many of the older Japanese wept tears of joy on coming again into contact with a member of the Japanese Royal Family. Even those of the second, third and fourth generations, although naturalised Americans, showed similar traditions, although not exactly in the same manner. "It was one of the most wonderful demonstrations of patriotism I have ever witnessed," said Archdeacon Snow, "yet the greater number of those present had availed themselves to the full of America's educative facilities, and were engaged in trades and professions of a typically Western character. On that occasion the Prince said he was glad to see That the Japanese were just«s loyal to their adopted American country as they were to their own native land. He told them to continue that • admirable trait, and to work for the good of all." Churches' Long Vacation. Speaking of other matters in Hawaii, the visitor said the labour on the plantations was mostly confined to Filipinos, and there were also a considerable number of Chinese in the islands. These, however, were not like the Japanese, and inter-married with other nationalities. Still, all the people lived together in harmony. It was Archdeacon Snow's intention to look into Church and scholastic matters, but he found that for three months of the year, with the exception of Honolulu, that churches and schools on the outlying islands • closed down. Practically during the whole of frig sojourn on the islands it was vacation time.