THE JAPANESE TREATY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1194, 18 January 1895, Page 4

THE JAPANESE TREATY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Having been much interested in the two articles that have appeared in the Maid on the question of the proposed Japanese commercial treaty, I would ask you to permit me room to urge what I think is a very important point to be reserved. With an active and enterprising population like that of Japan, there probably would be soon a large increase of trade with that country in meat, wool and many other of our products; also we need not fear greatly that our Colony would bo invaded and overrun by Japanese labour, they are not so numerous as the Chinese, and they are now evidently seeking expansion in the countries that surround them and there they can find a sufficient outlet for all their surplus labour and their Government would still retain full power over the people in their own colonies. At the same time it may bo advisable to consider the matter fully as to whether this Colony may not be entitled to retain the right to limit to some extent the possibility of large numbers of settlors desiring to come to this country from Japan. It is not very proable that many coolies would arrive from that country to New Zealand, but if the Japanese conquer and retain the administration of China, it will bo necessary to prevent the Chinese from coming here in excessively large numbers under Japanese protection. All Japanese who come here for legitimate purposes of trade and agriculture may, I think, be safely received, for they are an advancing and liberal people, who have during the last 30 years abundantly proved that they will adopt readily European ideas in the great matters of civilisation, and doubtless would soon learn our rules of trade, the rights of labour and rates of wages, and, if so, even a few village settlements of Japanese might be well worth trying, they bringing their

wives and becoming bona fide settlers. Such a concession they would probably receive as a compliment, and it would prove to them that while we object to be flooded with the immoral scum of the Chinese towns we are not opposed to the introduction of respectable Japanese emigrants if they desire to come. At the same time, it would prove that we as Anglo-Celtic colonists do not intend to permit these islands to be monopolised by any Asiatic race, and although we look on the Japanese as infinitely superior to almost any other Eastern people, and heartily desire their friendship, nevertheless we are forced to retain a certain amount of power in the proposed treaty for the purpose of preserving our "'national preponderance as British-Außtralasians in the South Pacific. —I am, &c., L.S.