Poll-Tax on Chinese In New Zealand

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6748, 5 January 1932, Page 10

Poll-Tax on Chinese In New Zealand

DISCUSSION AT THE PACIFIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE. Mr. 11. F. von Haast, of Wellington, returned this week after more than three months’ abscnco at tho conference of the Institute of Pacilic Relations at Shanghai. During the conference, Mr. von Haast was asked to outline tho attitude of the New Zealand Government toward tho continued restriction of aliens from the East. It was felt by tho Chinese that New Zealand was not so friendly toward China as it could be, and a xm 11tax was an indignity to which a nation should not be subjected. The delegates wero in sympathy with these sentiments, said Mr. von Haast, and agreed with the pkja that tho poll-tax should bo removed. The whole question of miscegenation was handled by the conference, and several interesting examples of in-ter-marriage between Europeans and Chinese were produced, tho result of which had proved eminently satisfactory. lt was felt by some delegates that greater attention should be paid to tho scientific investigation of this question, and arrangements were made to have further discussions upon it. “It is thought that the old idea that halfcastes absorb (he vices of both races and the virtues of one might bo found unsound,” Air. von Haast said, “and members of the conference were agreed that that the subject should bo given a more scientific analysis.” One of tho most interesting things mentioned by Mr. von Haast was the attitude of the American delegates toward the Maori renaissance in New Zealand, upon which Air. von Haast was asked to speak.

Tho Americans considered that tho rc-emancipation of the Alaoris was merely a flash in the pan, because the ultimate fate of ail native races was to become absorbed by tho whito races with which they lived. This was the outlook which determined the policy of tho United Wtates toward the natives of Hawaii. Impressions of troubled China, as viewed by a foreign observer, were given by Air. von Haast, who said tho anti-Japancso feeling ran exceedingly high in Shanghai, but it appeared to him that the Japanese wore dotsfiMned to stay in Alanchuria. To a New Zealander whose idea of tho Chinese raco was formed by association with laundrymen and market gardeners, it was an education to meet cultured, well-edu-cated Chinese most of whom had been educated at Harvard or at English universities. Mr. von Haast said he thought it would bo a mistake for Great Britain to think of abandoning tho Hankow Concessions while Japan still hud u concession there. The Chinese did not appear to appreciate the fact that Great Britain was willing to meet them halfway and mistook this spirit of conciliation I'or a display of weakness. A si/mg dictatorship was required in China, to ensure first flic establishment of Jaw and order and then stable government “There never was a time in history when China needed a foreigner more than sho docs now,” Air. von Haast continued, “yet there never was a time when she was more antagonistic to them and anxious to get rid of them