CHINESE IN AUSTRALIA

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1930, Page 11

CHINESE IN AUSTRALIA

DECLINE IN NUMBERS. Replying to suggestions to the contrary, the Minister .of Home. Affairs, Mr. Blakeley, has pointed out that since, the beginning of Federation the Chinese population in Australia has dropped from 29,627 to about 15,000. In. fact, there has been a regular and consistent decline in the Chinese population since 1881, when it was rated at 35,533, It was about 1881 when an agitation against the admission of Chinese wax commenced, and culminated in the Immigration Act and the “White Australia” policy. The decline is continuing, and in every .year since 1925 departures of Chinese have been greater than the arrivals. Last year arrivals numbered 1487 and departures 1891. At present the only permanent Chinese population ■comprises those resident in the Commonwealth since before Federation.

When this generation has passed there will be no Chinese with a right to live permanently in Australia, except the Children of Chinese' parents born here. The number of these is limited, for, at the 1921 census, there were only 3655 Chinese women in Australia, and only 3600 half-castes of both sexes. Under the Immigration Act no Chinese are now permitted into AusChinese who do come in are either former residents returning—and about 75 per cent, of the departures apply for return permits—or persons entering under exemption. Exemptions are granted on a yearly basis to Chinese merchants coming to the Commonwealth to engage in wholesale trading, or to act as substitutes to Chinese merchants who are going abroad. There is also an arrangement under which Chinese students are admitted for education purposes. A third limited exemption enables Chinese wives—the wives of residents of standing —to pay visits to the Commonwealth. Most elaborate precautions are taken by the department to prevent the transfer of return permits from Chinese leaving Australia permanently to unauthorised immigrants. Full and side-face photographs, finger prints and a detailed description of the general appearance and characteristics are taken at every departure.