(PUBLISHED DAILY). THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1905. THE WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5729, 26 October 1905, Page 4

(PUBLISHED DAILY). THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1905. THE WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY.

A significant statement made the other clay by the Premier of the Commonwealth, to the effect that a modification of tho Immigration Restriction Act is at present tho subject of negotiation with Japan, has focussed public attention upon one or two-aspects of Australian policy. The rise of Japan to tho position of a first-class Power, and tho renewal, on an extended basis, of the Anglo-Japanese alliance, 1 are undoubtedly tho factors that have impressed upon the 'minds of Australian statesmen the need of reconsidering their attitude towards alien immigrants. Apparently, the initiative has come from the Mikado’s Government, and Mr Deakin’s desire is to modify the law so that, withobt abandoning the “White Australia” policy, the susceptibilities of the Japanese will not be wounded. The Government of New Zealand will doubtless also he approached, with a view to having the Aliens Immigration Act amended in the same direction. It, is well that the colonies should show a willingness to promote tho comity of nations and to meet the views of the Empire’s allies, provided that tho action involves no menace to their own paramount interests. Probably agreement will be arrived at by means of a reciprocal arrangement whereby Japanese students, travellers, and merchants will be allowed the same free entry into these colonies as is accorded to similar classes of British subjects in . Japan. Mr Deakin has that the negotiations are not proceeding on the lines of a proposal to limit the number of immigrants; and as Australia will assuredly not entertain the idea of unrestricted freedom, the. reciprocal arrangement we have suggested is likely to form the basis of compromise. Japanese representative men have repeatedly stated that their Government has no desire to see largo numbers of the Mikado’s subjects emigrating to Australasia; it it evident, therefore, that all that is desired, is the removal of tho stigma of racial inferiority which is implied in the existing law.

A remarkable feature of the public discussion of the matter is the frank admission of the London/Times” that it is a convert to the “White Australia” doctrine. Hitherto the “Thunderer” has been disposed to adversely criticise the restrictive lavs of the Commonwealth, but it has been brought to see that “the existence of our race demands restriction and regulation,” for without some barrier Australia would bo handed over to “a preponderyellow and brown population.” The “Times” will no doubt be called upon to apply the same principle to the Transvaal, which is as well adapted to be the home of a white race as most parts of Australia. Should our contemporary reply that Chinese immigration to the Hand is sufficiently controlled by “restriction and regulation,” the retort will be ready that restriction which opens the door to thirty thousand yellow men, and regulation that amounts to conditions of serfdom, with flogging of offenders and “driving” of deserters thrown in, are far from being compatible with Australian ideas. On the -whole, however, the great London daily is to.be commended for the sane view it takes of Australian affairs and aspirations in its latest utterance. There is hope for the growth of a common Imperial sentiment when respect is shown to colonial sentiment and when colonial Governments are practically invited to assist the Home Government in matters of international concern. The consideration of restrictions on Japanese immigration has, naturally, raised afresh the questions of Australia’s need of population—a need which is also ours—and the wisdom of the law which debars a number of persons of European race from entering the Commonwealth. If Britain is prepared to “modify her preconceived theories” to suit the colonies, the latter ought in return to bo ready to abandon some of their prejudices, so that a mutual un-

dcrstandmg may be arrived at and mutual advantage served. Lord Jersey has tersely expressed bis views on Australia’s population problem. Ho rejects the Booth proposal, but holds that every inducement should bo offered to bona lido settlers on the land. The “ Times ” goes further, and argues for the free admission of artisans and labourers, with tho safeguard of a provision for tho exclusion of blackleg workers who might bo introduced -to take the place of men on strike. This is hardly satisfactory, if a high standard of living is to bo maintained, for hundreds of labourers might bo imported under engagement, to displace men when there was no labour dispute, but simply because of their giving their labour on cheaper terms. We in New Zealand have not found it necessary to forbid tho immigration of workers under contract/and this is largely because under our industrial laws the standard of wages is maintained almost automatically. New arrivals in this country may for a short time accept wages lower than those ruling, but they very soon find it to their advantage to join a trade-union, or, if tho occupation bo a now one, to form a union of their own, and thus obtain tho advantage of an appeal to tho Industrial Arbitration Court to bring their wages up to the country’s standard. When tho Commonwealth has an equally satisfactory lav, for tho regulation of the rewards of toil, she may well open her gates to European workers of all classes, without running any risk of flooding tiro labour market or depreciating tho conditions of life for her own people.