IMMIGRATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3509, 14 June 1921, Page 22

IMMIGRATION

THE ASIATIC INFLUX. SOLDIERS URGE ABSOLUTE PROHIBITION. An intensely important subject dealt with by the Returned Soldiers’ Association Conference on Saturday was that of immigration, which during the course of the evening was considered in practically all its aspects. It was brought up in the report of the Repatriation Committee, the last section of which was devoted to immigration, and touched first on the problem of Asiatic immigration and then on that of immigration from the Old Land. The conference was heavily against the adnrssion of Asiatics to the dominion, but there was wide and effectively exp. .---d difference of opinion on the question of encouraging British immigrants, and eventually the whole matter was passed on to the executive for careful invesigatioii. 'I he report was in the hands ot Mr W. E. l.eahley. of Christchurch. Tho first clause of the report was as follows:— “This annual conference of the Now Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association is of tho opinion that the influx of .Asiatics to the dominion under the present legislation t? —and increasingly will be—a serious menace to the country, and may become highly prejudicial to the moral standard of this dominion, in view of the fact that their moiie of living makes it possible for them to enter into unfair competition with returned so'diCis and workers of this country, and we urge that the Government take immediate slops to prohibit absolutely any further influx f, f the- 1 ■ lutes;; ti l,■ immigranls.” flux i.i these tmde.-ii -title immigrant.-.” The clause was adopt'd after an animated 4; Air Is.'fid ley then it: wed that a cable be sent Iron: site .'w, Zenluid Returned Soldiers’ Association i t (he Right Hon. Mi M u-.-ev, athnduc tne lmpeti;d ('onfor, nee at London, itiUi'iiimg him that it was the association's wish that he should strenuously oppose the repre-eul a I ions of the Indian delegate for equal rights to Indiana in any part of the Empire. Mr Batioii and the mover were appointed to draft such a cablegram and submit it la tor to Lite conference.