THE ASIATIC MENACE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15321, 17 September 1920, Page 8

THE ASIATIC MENACE.

IMMIGRATION ItiJSTBiGTIONS. WELLINGTON, last night, In commitleooh the-- Immigration lUstriction Amciiduieu Bill, Mr Sidey asked why the definition "British or" Irish parentage was used m clause 5 m connection with immigrants. Did -it' -mean that residents of other parts of the Empire was -hot -to; .'be regarded as British.— The Premier replied that lie proposed to mov c the deletion of 'tho words 'or Irish" m the- clalisb and • to make cor responding amendments m other clauses. On clause 4,- Mr Holland moved ail amendment imposing a 6th standard education test m English- and arithmetic in -lieu -of "the present educational test ou immigrants from non-British couiftries, and that the number bf Asiatics entering New Zealand, be* limited "tb 100 m any one year, the present poll-tax on Chinese to bo repealed. Mr Holland said the poll-tax did not keep the : Chinese out, but was felt to be aii unfair imposition i— The Premier said the amendment would mean the total ekdlteJon of Chinese, as uot one hi -a thousand of these or of the Indians could pass the sixth standard test. Further than this, the Indians • belonged to the* British-' 'Empire and such sfcringeiit discrim'inatibh would be taken by them as an lhsulti^—Mr Dbwnie Stewart favored the repeal of the poll-tax, but thought tho education test scarcely need bo stressed i if the number of Asiatic immigrants were "to be' restricted to 100 who were specially selected by the authorities of their own Mr Massey said the Bill was m the -nature of an experiment. Ho ' believed that when* it had been m opera tibu some time they could 6eb how it' acted. He thought it unwise to repeal poll-tax at present."— Mr Jones deprecated'the' inserting of a clause^ which nfiigh't involve the refusal of 'the Royal assent to the Act, m which case New Zealand might, before further legislation pould be enacted, be flooded with Asiatic immigrants. • It would be better to be a simple clause ehipowering tho Government to keep out anyone un-ahle'-to comply with certain ■ /require-ments.-^-Oii Mr Stewart's suggestion, the amendment was divided into two parts. The division On the first part, dealing with the education test, resulted m its defeat by 46 to' 17. The second' portion of the amendment repealing the poll-tax oil Chinese and limiting tho number of Aisatics admitted to NeV Zealand m one year to 100,. was then- discussed: Mi' Hanau contended that the poll-tax should be : retained and increased.— Dr. Newman ; asked if Chinese could come into New -Zealand by way of Samba. — The Premier' replied that they could not. — Mr Veitch thought the proposals m the Bill were* sufficient to govern the influx of Asiatics.— Tho Premier pointed out that : ho one of foreign nationality could enter New' Zealand without the Minister's permission; which would only bo given, after the fullest inquiry as regards the , imihigrani), S' fitness. — The, amendment was rejected by 's4 to »7. • .'• MrSullivali objected to 'empowering -tho G6veriior-in»Council to grant esompt4on from 'the requirements of permits as proposed under clause 6.— vFbo Premier eaid tho clause Was necessary 'to meet- special circumstances. They could, not, for instance, decline to allow .. Americans to enter. , „ Mr Holland moved to amend section .2 pf clause 6 to provide that exemption shall m- -no case btt -made'; to enable the influx of cheap labor from any ■ country outside* during periods of industrial trouble. The amendment, was. lost by 36 ;to-30.,- y ':■.;■■ ■ - ■ '-". - . ..;.. ; lii clause ' 9 Mj« ! Sav v ago moved to add tho words, "blit the "number of Asiaticaso admitted shall not exceed -100 m any given year."— The amendment was lost by 34 to 20: . Mr Holland asked the Premier to make tjome provision exempting Quakers and .others similarly situated who objected to taking the oath.— Mr- Massey said he had no wish to offend the Society of Friends; 1 and ho was confident • there was nothing m tho Bilr that would, *do -so. If they did not care to take the oath or make an affirmation' they could make a statutory ' declaration.^Mr Holland thought tho Society -of Friends would be satisfied with that. ■ y ■ ' t In clause 14 and 15 the words "every person of liritish or Irish birth or paTentago" were. omitted on tho motion of the •Premier. V After some additions the Bill was read a third timo and passed ;— Press Afesn'.'