IMMIGRANTS-WHITE AND COLOURED

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 304, 17 September 1921, Page 3

IMMIGRANTS-WHITE AND COLOURED

Sir, —The recent deputation of Labour delegates and others to tho Acting-Prinio Minister were insistent upon their desire to restrict immigration from the United Kingdom of people of our own race and colour,. but had nothing to say on the far more important necessity of restricting the numbers of Chinese, Hindus, and other racial aliens who are making New Zealand their home, and who constitute a deadly menace to tho white workers’ standard of living. The arrival of white immigrants from the Old Country is a cause for rejoicing to all who desire New Zealand’s progress, and any suggestion to make such immigration difficult demonstrates the hopelessly blind leadership whiclNat present afflicts "Official Labour.” There new arrivals will quickly adapt themselves to our ways and become part and parcels of ourselves, creating demand on one side and increasing production on the other. But what good does Labour expect to get from the Asiatic? Why not press for restriction, even prohibition, of tho entry into Now Zealand of people who never can raise our standards, and whose presence and customs and influence are all tending to reduce us to their own racial conditions of crowded squalor? These two sad words describe the lives of millions in China, India, and other Asiatic countries. Ask any observant traveller. Competition with Asiatics is never fair to Europeans, more especially in a country aiming at a high standard of living. As an instance, one out of many: At Ohakune therh are white grocers, employing white people, who close in accordance with the law at G p.m. Tn the same town are Chinese grocers, who keep their shops open all tho evening, up to 11 p.m. on occasion. The white men are under awthds and inspections and interferences of all sorts, while apparently the yellow people are loft to do as they nlehse, and th» vc’-v workers who are so keen about restrictions must bo supporting, them with their trade, or why would they keep oncn ? There nre many other places where Ihe same sort of thing applies, whore tho white trader and employer is harassed hr rides nnrj regulations galore, and the Asiatic. Chinese, or Hindu ignores tho lot. and is ignored by tho numerous officials armed with restrictive powers. Yet all the Labour delegates could comnloin about was th" arrival r.f our own folk from our own Motherland. —I am, etc., / ARGUS. Ohakune, September 12. 1921.