The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA. TUESDAY, APRIL 7th, 1908. QUALITY IN IMMIGRANTS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 7 April 1908, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA. TUESDAY, APRIL 7th, 1908. QUALITY IN IMMIGRANTS.

A Question is being asked in Canada just now the purport of /which is equally applicable to New Zealand, i.e., "Why should Canada people it sfertile fields and plague its growing cities with colonies of ignorant foreigners who never will become good citzens, who will keep their own languages andi'.traditions,- and' try to lire under codes which they recognise in. Italy, Sicily, Russia, or Hungary?" It is a question which has been forced upon Canada, and which our own country might well consider in relation to any proposals which may be made--For increasing our population, through the medium of immeigration. We want population.,' certainly, but, above all things, we da not want undesirables. Mr R L. Borden took a sound 6tand re< cently when this matter of immigration was under discussion in the Canadian House ©f Commons. While other' mem-• bers fought over the details of the- Government's immigration policy, Mr Borden spoke of the principle which should govern the Dominion v in this matter. Quality rather than quantity, lie said, should be regarded. "He was not prepared to adopt the- United States 'system of putting a head tax on immit giants, but the time had come in Canada when we ''should cease paying out of the treasury sums of money because Canada had a country -offering homes and inducements to the immigrants more than the United States. It was better to go slow and look to quality more than quantity. The history of the United States was before us. The pro- . blem which arose in a democratic coun- | try could not be properly solved unless 'the people who entered the country were; eminently capable of understanding Canadian institutions. It was for | these reasons quality would have to b^ « Jooked to in,the future more than quantity in respect to immigration." ■Mr Borden does well to point to tlie United States. A great problem vex-; ing that country to-day is the' formic]able masses of foreigners of an' undesirable sort whom it has not been, able tc assimilate in spite of its tremendous native population. During those-years when England, Ireland, Scotland, Scandinavia and Germany pourea! their people into tKe Republic the stream was of .priceless value. These newecomers were of the best stocks, 'intelligent, industrious, law-abiding, and fitted for fall political freedom. They became "good Americans.'' Then the nature of the incoming tide changed. Southern Europe began to contribute the greater number, but noV-only from Italy and Anstro-Heungary came hundreds of thoo-. sands; Russia and other countries sent hordes of people who formed "colonies" of their own in the American cities, to increase and remain expanding forces wholly out of touch with the American democracy. The lesson is too clear and too significant to go unheeded in any British community. This country does not want, and certainly never should invite, settlers of whom we cannot within a reasonable time make good citizens. Quality musct remain the primary aim of our immigration policy.-..but at the same time there is no reason than we can see wfoiy the volume of immigration of the right kind should not be materially increased during the next few years. "While keeping a rigorous check on the importation of undesirables, avg should strive none the less earnestly to encourage good home-seek-ing Britishers to settle in New Zealand.