THE ASIATIC PERIL.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 100, 25 October 1904, Page 5

THE ASIATIC PERIL.

CONFERENCE OF SUGAR GROWERS [PBESS ASSOCIATION.] (Received October 25, 9.45 a.m.)' BRISBANE, Day. At a conference of sugar growers, held at Townsviile, it was resolved, in the absence of a permanent settlement of the future attitude of the Commonwealth as regards tropical agriculture, that steps be taken which it is calculated will establish matters on a sound basis. Already considerable areas are passing, aad it is feared that eventually the whole tropical portion of Queensland will pass into the hands of Asiatics. The conference also urged the appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate the sugar industry. The fear w^s expressed that when the war ended and the armies were disbanded, the Japanese would join the Chinese and other "Asiatics in flooding the sugar industry of Australia. Several speakers advocated the necessity of Polynesian labour to develop the industry. One declared that he found wjiite labour was an unqualified success, and rather than retain the old condition* he would cease growing cane. He did not see that the introduction of Polynesians would prevent the Asiatics coming. Resolutions were adopted in favour of extending the Sifgai Bounties Act for a further period of at least ten years, and providing for the continuance of the Polynesian labourers now employed ip the industry.