ASIATICS AT PUKEKOHE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 45, 22 January 1926, Page 10

ASIATICS AT PUKEKOHE.

WHITE NEW ZEALAND LEAGUE

BOROUGH COUNCIL APPROACHED.

PUKEKOHE, Jan. 20. Tho question of controlling the influx of Asiatics into tho Pukekoho district was brought before the Pukekoho Borough Council last evening by Messrs E. J. Campbell und P. Miller, as a deputation from tho recentlyformed IV lute New Zealand League. They said that European produce growers on Pukekoho Hill and elsewhere feared that, with tho present rate of influx of Asiatics, in a few years tho Europeans would bo forced out. If they were allowed to come into the district unchecked, the district would become an undesirable ono to Europeans. Values would fall and the'progress of tho borough would be retarded. Tho Mayor, Mr John Routly, said the Asiatics could not get a footing if tho white people would not lease tho land to them. Ho agreed that some of tho Asiatics would work as lpng as 16 hours a day, seven days in tho week, and ho would bo sorry to seo Europeans reduced to doing the same to competo with them. A special report liad been obtained from tho health inspector as to their housing conditions. This stated that there were two parties of Chinese and ono of Hindus living in tho borough. Certainly they were living in poor structures, in ono case a shed constructed of iron and benzine tins, but the premises were kept clean and sanitary. It was evident, said Mi; ltoutly, that most of tho Asiatics were located in the’ country, not in the borough. Various suggestions to meet tho problem were made, and on tho motion of Messrs ltae and Hamilton, the council expressed its swmpatliy with tho idea of a white New Zaland and its willingness to help where practicable.