THE EDUGATION TEST.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 138, 5 March 1908, Page 8

THE EDUGATION TEST.

A CHINESE PROTEST : By'an 1 Act of'last..session entitled the Chinese .Immigrants Amendment- Act, : it was decided that: — : '.- . "It shall riot-be lawful for any Chinese ; to land-in.New Zealand until it-has been , proved to tho satisfaction, of tho Collcctor or - other principal , officer of Customs. • at sooie port in New. Zealand'that such ■< Chinese is able to read a-printed passage-' 1 . ; -■ .of-not. less than one hundred words of . tile English language, 'selected .at the dis- ,- oration ol" such Collector . or .. principal ■ officer." • Tlie Act is to come into operation three months after the King's' absent has been received. The R-oyal \assent has - not, so' far as is. knowri,' been received' by the-Governor, who is being petitioned \by : 'the,. Chinese of , Auckland and Wellington ;-to -refrain froni ■granting that .-assent,.,...:.'.'. * UtV: C -..- Tho" petition sets- forth ' that the- Chinese resident, in New Zealand are a peaceable and law-abiding section of the community, and that they are already subject to drastic penalties, iuashiuch" as they have to submit to a poll-tax of £100 on landing, and no vessel is allowed to bring more than" one Chinese passenger to every 200 tons of her register. It is pointed out that the number of Chinese in the Dominion is steadily diminishing, 'having receded from 5004 in 1881 to 2570 at the last census. Consequently there is r no ■ justification for tho- statement that they are a menace to-'the population: The subject of alieiV'iirtmigratibri l is a most delicate one;' and at-the .present time, ,when tho most cordial relations, exist between His Majesty's Government' and the- Government of China, the legislation complained of is a breach of international: comity. At the firstColonial Conference in 1897, the 1 Secretary of Stato for the Colonies (Mr. Chamberlain) submitted a draft: measure' known as the Natal Act. This was adopted and, submitted to the various Parliaments, by. whom it-was enacted with certain modifications.' .The New Zealand Act...0f.1899 is..practically ,that mea-. sure. This Act contains .special provisions exompting the : therefore, it was considered that since the Chinese had -already to submit;, to tho- poll-lax there, was' no need for. an.,education test.- This I Act, which was finally; assented -to; was regarded as marking' the- culminating .point' of legislative action, which ..itwas .not wise to .go unless foiv : ,some v special, .reason. No. such reason has 'arisen.'in.'Now Zealand, and therefore the 'npw .jAct is .uncalled for. Tho petitioners -further'; pointed out' that they have lib difficulty, in.trading with'their white fc] 1 ow^itizens, and : theyfind. a.'.ready market for their produce. . .Therefore, it wouid appear that , they were - hot'.undesirable, immigrants, as is generally supposed. ■ ! Clause'ls states'that: the' said. Bill 'makes lio provision .for tho're-entry of' Chinese' residents who, though,'domiciled' in Ne\vjZealand, aro, at present' absent from tho dominion, and that though they , have , homes 'and property here they.will ;bo', precluded by tho rigorous fest, imposed' by 'the"Bill from returning. The\ Bill 'fail's' to: provide aii " exemption'::™ favour of- 'Chinese residing 'in Nfcw Zealand:who may; desire to .'visit .China or-any other, part, of, thp.'-:world. Finally, ..tho. petition includes': a';.table ' setting forth the'diminishing ChihesS 'Jjopulation in' Now Zealand'as'follows ' v Census' Year. -■ '• •-No.'Chinesci. '•18S1' - ... '-5004 - ' ' ISS6 ... • 4542 . -1891' ' •- ■ 4444" ' .1390. ' ... ; - 3711,1901 ' '■= -v 2857 • 1906 '... --... '. • : 'v. : ;- 2570"