THE COLOUR LINE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 223, 13 June 1908, Page 5

THE COLOUR LINE.

• CASE OF HARNUM SINGH.

EFFECT OF COMMONWEALTH LAWS. TO INDIA VIA ENGLAND. Particulars-havocoino to light in Wellington during tho last few days showing how very peculiarly, if not arbitrarily, the-alien xeStriotion legislation- works in tho Com-' moiiwcalth. A few days ago tho local manager.; of Messrs. Thomas Cook and Co. received a 'letter from Spring Creek, Blenwritten by one who signed himself V Harry Singh,'L asking that a passage, bo booked, for him to Colombo. Shipping Company's Refusal. ' Arrangements were being made to that end, When it transpired that Harry Singh in reality Harhum Singh, a Sikh, and, of- course, a coloured man. This information was cabled to the Orient. Company's •office In Sydney, that being tho line by which itVwas. most convenient for tho intonding passenger to travel to Colombo, when an answer-was reeoived to the effect that there wits lib' accommodation, available for Singh. The local manager (Mr. Cratnohd) at once drow tiio conclusion that under the alien restriction legislation-an Asiatic who could not pass a certain educational test could not land on soil under certain penalties. One.of these was that a certain writing test in a European language should bo passed, and this Singh was. cortain to fnil in, as ho could not write! Mr. Cramond was not quite certain that this was the reai reason until Wednesday's Sydney hiail came to hand completely justifying the conclusion he had arrived at.

.The)trouble, at the bottom of this business,is' really the safe custody of tho Asiatic during the few days between the arrival of, the New Zealand boat in Sydney and the departure of the "Orient mail-boat, and again at other Australian* ports to bo called at en route from Sydney to Colombo. There was no 'roal: unwillingness on tho : part of the steamship' company authorities to carry tho man; but thoy absolutely declined to taUo the , risk of his disappearing at one of the . way ports, and so leaving the company to be penalised for such remissness. What has been stated above is pretty generally known' to thoso interested in such mattors, but 'there aro circumstances in connection with ■'the case that make ,it very interesting. /■\ ;• ; sixteen Years in Now Zealand: . ~ Hanram Singh says that ho arrived in Now South "Wales twenty-one years ago, and- that after- living a year in that Stato he went to Victoria, where He' - resided '.for. a period of! four years. After that he camo across Zealand, and has been a resident of this Domiiiion for no less a period than sixteen years, finally marrying a Victorian ijidyin Blenheim, where he has been settled for some time past. ,He has never been to India or elsewhere outside of Australia for the whole of' the poriod'mentioned, yet he is riot permitted to travel to India , by the , nearest route bccauso tho stoamer in which he must journey to do so stops at Australian ports. It can hardly be wondered at that "tW.,procedure is .to the party, principally affected somewhat incomprehensible, to say • tho least.;-. : ' ; . ' . Ab : a matter of fact, , Singh would not-be leaving!'.the'Dominion but that'he has received advice,,of, his father's death, and some property hasf been left him which-hei-must see to before returning to New Ifealand. -On his side there might be, too, something to be said from a patriotic point of view—the Sikhs have rendered valuable services to the Empire. in troublous times, and ho is a British subject.

'So really essential was it for Harnum' Singh to reach tndia as'soon as possible—and ' not to. escape from tho steamer in Australia— ; that ,'he has been, forced to' travel to his ; country by way of England, and left for Lon-. ' don. from Lyttelton by tho Turakina last j Tuesday, an itinerary which entails great ] delay,' expense, and inconvenienco.