The Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1922. THE INDIAN MISSION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16875, 28 October 1922, Page 8

The Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1922. THE INDIAN MISSION.

The report which Mr Sastri made in London regarding his mission to the Dominions was a cautious one. He admitted that ho did not expect an immediate fulfilment of what had been attempted by his mission, but stated also that it was fairly certain that it would not be long before the legislation sought would be passed. Mr Sastri was received in Australia and New Zea land with the respect due to a distinguished Indian statesman, and some speeches were made which may have flattered his hopes, but he did not take away with him anything tangible in the shape of either promise or performance. As an astute observer of public opinion he must have gathered that the people of the Dominion are entirely opposed to Asiatic immigration and that they are not likely to agree to the full enfranchisement of such Asiatics as pass the barrier. As a matter of fact, public opinion would support a more drastic policy of exclusion which would operate with greater effectiveness than the present education test. Mr Sastri, of course, protests that he is not asking the Dominions to repeal their restrictive laws, but there can be little doubt that that is the ultimate objective of the Indian party which he represents. If domiciled Indians are admitted to the full rights of citizenship in the Dominions there would soon arise an agitation for the abolition of all restrictions on the entry of Indians into this country*. At present New Zealand draws its Indian population fiom the coolie classes in Fiji—the indentured labourers who are now so strong in numbers in that island of the Pacific that they can give the Fijian Government an exceedingly unpleasant time. They are undesirables in every sense of the word, and their unrestricted entry into this country would have the most deplorable effects, both socially and industrially. Mr Sastri found that the prejudioe against Indians in the Dominions was not so much a prejudice against the race and colour as an apprehension that an unrestricted advent to the Dominions might affect the quality of the civilisation which they are anxiouß to preserve. It is a fact that the working man, though theoretically inclined towards internationalism, is in practice exclusive as far as the admission of Asiatics is concern ed. The coloured man represente to him the fact of cheap labour, whose presence will bring down wages and lower the standard of living. He has no desire to see the indentured labourer from Fiji make his way to this country with the promise of a vote and full rights of citizenship as soon as he arrives. The admission of Asiatics to this white country is opposed on various other grounds, but they may be summed up under the general objection that in race, colour, morale, customs and outlook they are antipathetic to the British stock in the Dominions. It is interesting to reflect that while Mr Sastri is seeking votes for the Indians domiciled in the Dominions, the home population of India is not enfranchised. Two or three millions of Indians have th© vote, but the great bulk of the people are under the more or less auto, cratio rule of their own princes. The movement towards Home Rule or

“ Swaraj ” is growing, and some day it will be realised. The problem which confronts British and Indian statesmen is how to conoede responsible government to India and yet maintain the link connecting India with the British Empire. Mr Sastri made no attempt, to disguise the fact that he supported the granting of Home Rule to India, though he also proclaimed hie conviot/,«i that British rule must be maintained. It is quite likely that if the Dominions agreed to enfranchise domiciled Indians their action would be used to secure a wide* extension of the franchise among the native population in India itself. Events are plainly working towards the government of India by th© Indians, and there is a good prospect that the change -will come through constitutional processes. The Dominions, however, are under no obligation to extend the full rights cf citizenship to a class of immigrants which the Statute Book declares to be undesirable.