“YELLOW PERIL” A MYTH

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1930, Page 11

“YELLOW PERIL” A MYTH

PROFESSOR BELSHAW’S VIEWS.

The view that people in Australia and New Zealand who hold the belief that China and Japan are watching their countries eagerly for chances of mass emigration are taking themselves far too seriously, is expressed by Professor H. Belshaw, professor of economies at Auckland University College, who returned by the Maunganui after attending the third biennial conference of the Institute of Pacific Relations at Kyoto, Japan, states the New Zealand Herald.

“The ‘yellow peril’ in this respect is hardly more than a myth,” said Professor Belshaw. “The Japanese may have their eyes on Manchuria, but there is not the slightest cause to worry about the likelihood of their emigration t-o this part of the world.” Considerable interest was taken in New Zealand by the Japanese, Professor Belshaw continued, particularly by the younger people. Indeed, New Zealand affairs and conditions came up for discussion frequently at the conference, and the International Research Committee made a grant of £5OO a year for two years to be used in research work in land utilisation in the Dominion. The fund was to be administered by the Auckland University College Council. “China is evidently still very unsettled,” Professor Belshaw said. “The people are very restive concerning the restrictions on their sovereign rights by the European nations, and these restrictions eventually will have to go. However, owing to the disturbed nature of the country the time of their passing.is still distant.

“There has been astounding industrial progress in Japan and I should say that in no other country has electrification proceeded so far. The Japanese have adopted western civilisation, but .there is still a strange contrast between the old and the new. In spite of the modern industrial spirit there is a strong feeling for the retention of the old arts and. crafts. The people seem to be impressed with the necessity for keeping alive their individuality in this respect. “Japan is suffering from a period of slight trade depression at present, but to some extent to the havoc resulting from the recent earthquakes. However, Yokohama has been practically reconstructed and rebuilding is proceeding in Tokio, where there are some fine modern buildings and streets.”