THE JAPANESE ALLIANCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11687, 21 February 1902, Page 4

THE JAPANESE ALLIANCE.

i~ Lyttelton Times.") We Jo unc yet knew what effect the Japanese alliance will have upon, these coionies. but it is obvious that the obligations into which the Mother Country lias entered are binding upon us also, and that our attitude towards Japan must undergo some alteration. Japan would hardly become a party to such an agreement unless an understanding had been arrived at on the question of emigration, and it is probable that Britain has given an assurance that for the tut ore the policy ni restricting the entry of aliens into the self-governing portions of the Empire will be modified is her favour. .We do not think that existing legislation could be directly interfered with by the Imperial Government, but we need not be surprised if colonial Parliaments are politely informed that some ■amendment of their immigration laws would be advisable, in the general interests of the Empire. As we saw from a cable message on Saturday, a Bill introduced into the British Columbian Legislature has been disallowed by the -Colonial Office because it directly prohibits the employment- of Japanese in the State: and it- is perfectlv clear that the Imperial authorities will cot permit our new allies to be placed in any humiliating position compared with other races. The alien labour difficultv has reached an acute stage in British "Columbia, in consequence of the repressive measures adopted in California having driven both Japanese and Cninese over the border. Mr Roger Clute, a Canadian Federal Commissioner, who has been investigating the subject of Oriental immigration in Vancouver, declares that Asiatics are engaced in all kinds of labour, from domestic service to railway constracticn, and that only cne shipbuilding yard now employs white labour. White fishermen, too, have been driven out- of the trade on the Pacific coast, and everywhere the competition of cheap icreign labour is forcing . white labour cut ox the market. Here in 2iew Zealand we have in our labour laws a strong and effective safeguard against the introduction of an unlimited -amount of cheap Asiatic labour, and even if an extensive modification of the alien immigration laws became necessary, we should be better protected than any other State. And we must remember that the Japanese are altogether a more advanced people than the Chinese, more civilised from the Western point of view, so that the sacrifice -we mav have to make in "" legislating for the legitimate susceptibilities of Britain s vigorous and progressive ally will nor be great compared with the advantages accruing to the Empire from ta'e alliance. We shall gain both directly and indirectly by the strengthening of the British position in China seas and in the North Pacific generally, and the "Times" is quite justified in suggesting that we should be willing to make greater sacrifices in tne Empire's interest. We have urged again and again that the colonies should make a more substantial contribution to the British naval strength, in men, if they will be acceptable; and in money. vote for naval purposes has again been increased, and it is surely unfair that while

the expenditure on tliis great Department Las been growing larger every year, the Australasian ; contribution has remained stationary. We have no donbt that some important changes will be made when the subject of the Australasian Squadron is discussed, as it will be in June, by the colonial representatives in London, and we -certainly think that 2few Zealand should be prepared to make a much larger contribution than she does now. An efficient navy is the best defence we can have in time of war and thfi best security for our trade in time of peace, and our present contribution is altogether out of proportion to the benefits we enjoy. It is proposed now to increase the personnel ot tlw> Xavy by 3875 officers and men, and it seems to us that the Australasian States might offer to supply that number without placing an undue strain upon either their population or their treasuries. That is one of the points, however, that should be discussed by our representatives in London. The real lesson which the " Times' is trying to emphasise is that we have claimed a place as a fully endowed member of the Imperial fanuly, and that we shall have to bear our share of all the Empire's burdens.