A GRAVE DANGER.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 1521, 5 July 1898, Page 5

A GRAVE DANGER.

(Lyttelton Times.)

A very grave danger seems to be threatening the Australian colonies, and there is a possibility of its extension to New Zealand. Indian immigration has increased during recent months at an alarming rate, for since January Ist, no fewer than 240 Hindoos have arrived in Melbourne. Of these, 127 arrived in May, and there are some 50 others on the way from India. The immigrants are making a movement northwards, intending, no doubt, to settle in Queensland and northern New South Wales. Mr G. H. Reid has already announced his intention of intio'ducing an Undesirable Immigrants Restriction Bill, but remembering the experience that New Zealand went through regarding a similar measure, we doubt whether New South Wales will be very successful in checking the Hindoo stream. Many people, it is true, consider that there is no danger of. race deterioration in allowing aliens to settle among European communities. For the benefit of these sceptics it may be stated that in Sydney alone there are 300 half caste Chinese, and before many generations, therefore, the taint of Chinese blood will run throughout the community. Half the aboriginal population of New South Wales again is half castes, and while the number of pure blooded blacks is decreasing, the half-caste population is steadily increasing. Queensland again presents a confused problem".' It -has a-- large aboriginal population ; thousands of Kanakas and of Chinamen work in the plantations, and there is besides a large element cf islanders in the extreme North. These races are all of low grade, and are gradually introducing their blood into the European population. In Tort Darwin district, again, therp are 5000 Chinese to 1000 whites, and near by is a large Japanese colony. Western Australia, of course, has a mixed population of whites, Hindoos, Chinese, Japanese, and Afghans. The amalgamation of these Eastern races with the Anglo Saxons is by no means to be compared with the amalgamation of Maoris and whites in New Zealand, for the Maoris are certainly a tine athletic race, of high intellectual standard. There is, as we have pointed out, a very grave danger to IS T aw Zealand in the continued alien immigration to Australia,;.and it should be unnecessary to urge all 'those who realise the importance of purity of race to a nation, to support the Government, should it see fit to join with those of other colonies in making a united effort to protect the Anglo-Saxon communities in Australasia