ALIEN INFLUX CHECKED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18460, 25 July 1923, Page 8

ALIEN INFLUX CHECKED

NEW \ LAW . EFFECTIVE, , RETURN ' FOR is MONTHS.' PERMIT BEFORE DEPARTURE : [BY : TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL BEPOBTEB.} • "WELLINGTON. Tuesday. A statement regarding the measures for restricting the .influx'of ; race aliens was made! by the Minister for Customs, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, in the House of Representatives;this evening. : The Miniser : said the Immigration Restriction Amendment.: Act, '1920, had greatly reduced the number of Chinese, Hindus and other race alien« entering the dominion, ,In the periods of 18 ' months respectively before and after the operation of, the Act, the following race aliens had entered the country :—

In the second period, 57 race aliens were returned as having permanently left the' country, but no corresponding return was available for the first period. Before the passage of the 1920 Act the Government had relied on the poll tax and the language test to: restrict the entrance of race aliens, but both had' proved ineffective. ..The new law provided that race aliens must obtain permission from the New Zealand Government before leaving their own country. It was working very satisfactorily. ■ . Chinese numbered, he believed, less than one-half per cent, of the population, and there wore probably fewer aliens proportionally in " New Zealand than in any other country. . '. The Government was watching and if necessary the, proportion of aliens enterling would be still further reduced.

Before. After, Chines© n. ... ' 3,234 . 166 Hindus ... .v. 381 11 Others ... ... Ill 48 Totals • ... 1726 225