IMMIGRATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 273, 12 August 1920, Page 6

IMMIGRATION

IMPORTANT NEW BILL

UNDESIRABLES TO BE KEPT OUT

RESTRICTIONS ON ASIATICS AND OTHER ALIENS

The Immigration Restriction Amendment Bill was introduced by tihe Primo Minister in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Bill has not yet been circulated, but it is understood that it contains some very important amendments to the law. In view of the promises given on more than one occasion by Mr. Massey that legislative action would be taken to stop or restrict the influx of Asiatics into New Zealand, somd legisla tion of this character was expected, and the Bill is in fulfilment of the promise ffivefl. But the Bill deals not only with tho immigration of Asiatics, but of people from ajl parts of tho world, including tho British Empire. As to Asiatics, it is ti well-known fact that the education test has ten useless for a long time, and it is to he -abolished. A much more effective method of regulating immigration is proposed, and the proposal applies to subjects of all foreign countries except those which may bo specifically excepted. Before a citizen may leave his own country in order to come to New Zealand with the intention of becoming a permanent resident here, he must first make application in writ ing from Mb own country to the authorities here, setting out certain facts about himself from which it will be possible for the authorities here to determine a.-! to his suitability to become a resident of this country. This test of suitability will take the place of the old education test, in the case of Asiatics. It is understood that the poll-tax on Chinese immi grants will remain as at present. The most important clause in tho Bill is that providing that all persons coming to this country will he required to take an oath; ill the ease of subjects of the British Empire, it will He the oath of allegiance, and in the casi> of subjects ot a foreign_ power .it will be an oath to obey the iaws of New Zealand. Subjects of Britain, from any part of the United Kingdom or Irel-and, will be free to come to this country without any restriction except tho requirement that thev shajl take the oath of allegiance on landing here. Subjects of any foreign power may be required to ualce written application before being permitted to land in this country, but there is to be provision in the Bill for the exemption from its operation of certain friendly countries to bo named in proclamations. As a corollary to theso requirements for the taking of oaths, there must be provisions for the correction—by deportation—of persons who, having taken the oath, do not act. in conformity with it afterwards. The procedure is not intended to apply to persons coming' to this country from Great Britain or other friendly country .for business, pleasure, or health. People may como hero Tor tlieae reason*, but. only from the countries declared to bo friendly, and their stay here must bo limited to a few months.

All these proposals for the taking of tho oath "by immigrants aro quite new to New Zealand, and it is -understood that they are not in operation in any other part of tho_ British Empire. The Bill is sure to he keenly debated As it affects international affairs' to some extent, and also relations of New Zealand with other parts of the Empire, it is certain that tho Bill will have to be referred to London for the Royal Assent.

THE ARMS BILL TO COME INTO ]?t>HCE IN l!ttl. Tn Committee on the Arms Bill yesterday the Upper House adopted an amendment providing that the Bill should come into force 011 January 1, 1921. Tho Leader of the Council (Sir Francis Bell) explained that the War Regulations made sufficient provision in the meantime for the enforcement of tho required restrictions upon the salo and possession of firearms. It was desirable that the Bill should not bo permitted to clash with tho regulations. After making a number of comparatively unimportant amendments in addition to the amendment mentioned, the Committee reported progress Sir Francis Bell 'having indicated that later on there miirht bo other changes to propose. high charges > the exchange difficulty. A ' complaint about the high ohnree by the Pasta! Department for the remission of small 6ums of monev to the united Slate was made in ~m House of Representatives by Mr. S. G. Smith iaraiiaki). A correspondent had written to state that lie had been required to pay 13s. id. 111 order to remit the charge being at the rate of 6s. Bd. for eoglt pound or fraction of a pound. ihe iostmaster-General replied that he had received some information on the point, but lie wished to make further inquiries. He would like-the question placed on the Order Paper.

ASSESSING DUTY A TAKANAKI GRIEVANCE. slatea ,n the House that ho had received a conplaint from Taranaki regarding the manner in which tho Customs Department assessed rbe-,dutyon dairying- machinery imported from Denmark. Tho Departm«nt was giving the kroner a value ">5 per cent, in advance of the former value and this change operated unfairly against people who had bought machinery at o.i.f. prices 111 New Zealand. Tho Minister of Customs (Sir William Hemes) aslced for full information, and undertook to have inquiries made.NOT TOTED IN IttJSSIA The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr Holland) asked tho Minister of Justice whether the Government of New Zea land would givo effect to the undertaking made l>y the British Government with the Soviet Government of Eussia for the repatriation of all Russian subjects' in the British Empire willing to return to Eussia. Mr..Lee (Minister of Justice) said thai tho Government was quite prepared to do its share, but he told Mr. Holland something about the Kussian Government. '"The honourable gentleman," he said, "may be interested to know that the only Russians whom tho New Zealand Government desired to repatriate apparently could not establish their nationality to tho satisfaction of tho Soviet Government, because permission to eond them to Eussia was withheld." TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES Dr. Newman's Bill to amend the Temporary Employees ilet, and to make better provision in several respects for temporary employees of the Statu, es pccially in the matter of their admission as permanent officers of the State service, waa down for second roading in tho House last night. Dr. Nowimin asked, however, that it be postponed for a fortnight. Ho said incidentally lliat it was a money Bill, and that it could not go much farther

Tha Bill waa postponed accordingly

GERMANS OR SWISS? Mr, Wright (Wellington Suburbs) lias given notice to ask the Minister of ImmigTalion—(l) Whether lie is awaro that a number of Germans nrrived per tho s.s. Niagara oil Monday last with tho object of settling in Tarnnaki? (2) Whether it is irue that tlieso men did not travel as Germans, but as natives of Switzerland? (3) Whether these men are regarded as undesirable immigrants;and, if so, what steps were taken to prevent them from landing in New Zealand?

The Hon. G, M. Thomson has given notice in the Upper House that lie will ask the Government a question regarding the amount of imported coal used on the railways, and also regarding any stnps that may liavo been taken by the Department for tho utilisation of pulverised coal on locomotives.