THE EASTERN IMMIGRANT

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXXI, Issue 4107, 21 April 1920, Page 2

THE EASTERN IMMIGRANT

EVIL FOR NEW ZEALAND.

LABOUR'S -VIEWS

The three Labour members of Auckland, Messrs. M. J. Savage, W. E. Parry, and F. N. Bartram, Ms.P./ are concerning themselves particularly with the influx of Chinese ami Hindus into the country, and they sent to the Prime Minister a wire to the following effect: "in view of the alarming influx of Asiatics and other classes of cheap labour, involving, as i.t must, the lowering of the laving standard of .our people, as well as the probable deterioration, in the physical 'standard of all races mixing indiscriminately, we ask that s'tens be immediately taken to deal with this menace. We understand that 21 Chinese and 54 Hindus are due to arrive by the Niagara. Pending discussion by Parliament and a mutually satisfactory understanding with with the countries involved, we urj>e that the present law be administered to as far as possible minimise the evil." '

This morning Mr Savage expounded his views upon the Asiatic influx. He said the question was a n.ighty one that could, not be settled -simply by passing a law, but wouVd have to be " decided by , representatives of the . various nations. New Zealand/was" not like Australia, he pointed but, and if we were going to allow all kinds of races to come into the country and mix indiscriminately, it could not fail to do harm. The education tests, he averred, was only a JEaivc that did not decide the problem at all. The teeming millions of the Eastern countries were only a stone'::; throw away. They were being educated, slowly perhaps and often wrongly, but sooner or later they would come to see the law of force, and though perhaps New Zealand could hold out for a little, in the long run, resistance would be useless. Mr S;avage considered that the longer the country permitted the present immigration laws to remain in force the more difficult it would be to stay the rushing horde of Asiatics.