PACIFIC PROBLEMS.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17220, 1 October 1927, Page 8

PACIFIC PROBLEMS.

NEW ZEALAND’S OUTLOOK. TREND OF EVENTS. ASIATIC INDUSTRIALISM. New Zealand is an integral part of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Its outlook upon both internal and external problems is deeply affected by its relationship with the other nations within that Cpmmonwealth, and by its view of the 'obligations which membership in that Commonwealth involves. No account of New Zealand’s political and economic problems and points of view would give a true perspective unless it emphasised the close relation which exists between New Zealand and the Mother Country. This impression was imparted to an attentive audience at Hamilton last night by Mr Walter Nash (secretary to the New Zealand Labour Party) and a delegate to the recent International Conference at Honolulu when he spoke under the joint auspices gf the League of Nations’ Union and the Workers’ Educational Association on the New Zealand outlook towards Pacific affairs. The Mayor (Mr J. R. Fow) presided. The Pacific area was gradually becoming the orbit of nations, and provided a vast field for research and study. The relation of New Zealand to the confining countries of the Pacific was important, and the great international object was the creation of a sympathetic understanding between the widely differing countries bounding the shores of the Pacific. The religious question had to be subordinated to the national viewpoint if the aim of pacifists was to be achieved. The Institute of Pacific Relations had done much to mould the international affairs into plastic form, and a New Zealand delegation participated in the 1927 conference. While they perhaps had no direct interest in the Pacific, Russia and Mexico were invited to be'represented. All lines of thought were represented, from the scientific, social, commercial, religious and geographical points l of view. The improvement of mutual relations was the primary object of the institute. Representation was confined to sovereign and autonomous States, but divergent views were held, and eventually an amendment was carried by the constitution giving Korea and the Philippines a voice in Pacific international affairs. The conference sought to ascertain opinions and did not pass a single resolution.

China loomed large in the public view at the time of the conference, because of the probability of other nations becoming embroiled in the Asiatic unrest. The subjects of most interest to New Zealand were Asiatic emigration, the development of the Singapore base, and the development of the Pacific Islands. The foreign policy of New Zealand was practically dictated by that of Britain, from whom a lead was looked for. The Singapore Base. Opinion in New Zealand at present supported the declared policy of the British Government in respect of the Singapore Base, but from the speaker s point of view it was an undesirable manifestation. He believed the development of the Singapore Base was one of the most dangerous of the British Government’s undertakings for some time. The decision was a momentous one, those strongest in advocacy of the base advanced the fact that it was not being established, but developed, for use as an effective instrument if the peace of the world was menaced. It tended towards the spirit of domination from the naval aspect, ant domination automatically bred conflict, which in turn led to war. The argument on which support for the Singapore Base was founded were, briefly:— (a) That the British fleet is one of the great securities for peace of the world.

(b) That this security can only he maintained by providing the fleet with means to operate effectively. (c) That a naval base at Singapore is the one place from which the fleet can operate effectively in the Pacific area.

(d) That if you exclude the Pacific from the area iu which the British fleet is effective you exclude one of the greatest instruments for maintaining world peace. If it was admitted that it was desirable to make the British Navy . an effective instrument in the Pacific, then a naval base was necessary, and Singapore was probably the most convenient place. Opponents of the base, however, stated that the price of the instrument might be too great. It was said that a naval base for merely defensive purposes was not possible, and the acceptance of the argument implied that it was essential for the base to be an instrument of offensive possibility. The best defence was often attack. It was also said that Singapore must be so constructed as to enable the British Navy to function effectively in the Pacific. Touching upon the racial question as it affected New Zealand, Mr Nash stated that the Customs regulations were practically an effective barrier against the admittance of Chinese and Hindus, but he would not argue the merits of the restrictions.

Labour on Islands. An analysis of the industrial tendency of the East showed that it was progressing at an amazing rate, and new problems were being horn as the advance was made. The development of the natural resources of the Pacific Islands would require wise policy, and the. problem to he faced was a complex one. The conditions made the islands eminently suitable for the production of tropical fruits, while Lhe manufacture of vegetable oils was a great industry as yet in its infancy. There was insufficient native labour available to exploit the resources profitably, and the importation of more virile labour from Asiatic countries had tended to accentuate the problem, as the natives declined, as they were displaced in their occupations, and rendered idle. What was to he the attitude towards the indentured and imported labour problems? The policy of New Zealand was to foster and encourage the native to use his own land and to adjust his customs to meet the changed conditions. The resources of the islands needed development, hut care had to be exercised that the welfare of the natives was not injured in the process. The policy to he adopted should closely, follow that of Australia in Papua, wiicre a wide system of organisation was in evidence, and tjie natives were being educated to develop the resources of the country themselves. New Zealand had already made a great contribution to native welfare, as its relations with the Maon population testified.

China f s Tariff Autonomy. The question of tariff autonomy in China, to cross to the Asiatic side, was a most debatable one. In effect the Chinese people were demanding the right to decide what duties should be imposed on importations, a privilege

now exercised by foreigners. seemed to be no rooted objection to collection of the taxation by foreigners provided China controlled that administration. Formerly the tariff vras 5 per cent., but China was conceded the privilege—after it had taken ik-—of placing a 2 A per cent, surtax on imports, bringing the tariff up to 7-i per cent. The speaker believed it would satify the people if the foreign element remained as collecting agents only, and gradually absorbed Chinese into the Customs staff, so that if the necessity arose they could take over themselves the Customs administration. . The Institute of Pacific Relations agreed that tariff autonomy ought to be granted China as soon as possible, but it would lake at least a year effectively to organise a national tariff. Britain, in admitting the merits of tariff autonomy by China, made the qualification that no discrimination should be made in connection with the national source of the imports. That sounded logical, but. then China was deprived of the autonomy it sought. If others made conditional limitations of her rights, then tariff autonomy was nonexistent. Japan’s qualification was that she would require an indication of how the tariff would be levied. While that destroyed autonomy, there was justification for her attitude, as she was dependent on China for raw materials for her own industries. China’s statement was that if she could not obtain tariff autonomy by treaty, then she would relegate to herself that right from January 1, 1929, and put it into operation herself. The great obstacle to that, however, was the absence of unity of Government.

Extra-Territorial Privileges. Extra-territorial rights enjoyed by foreigners troubled China, as she had no jurisdiction over the foreign concession, whose inhabitants were not subservient to her laws, but conformed with their own under a Consular Court. A system to completely codify Chinese law, where Chinese Courts in conjunction with European legal advisers, would be able to try foreigners, had been proposed. A Chinese was able to purchase foreign nationality, say that of a Portugese, and by that action placed himself outside of the jurisdiction of the Chinese Court, electing 10 he tried by a Consular Court, and enjoying privileges a Chinese national would not have.

The general consensus of opinion at the conference of the Institute of Pacific Relations was that extra-territorial-ity should he abolished, and a change made as soon as proper transitory stages could be evolved. The concessions virtually give foreigners a monopoly of the Government in the city of Shanghai, and the Chinese contended that the international settlement and Chinese Shanghai should be consolidated, with adequate representation given to the smaller municipalities.

, Relations With Japan. It seemed the most dangerous factor operating in China was not antagonism to Britain, but a feeling of friction, disclosed by recent incidents, with Japan, who had concessions in Southern Manchuria, and would stand resolutely to maintain them against the inevitable Chinese expansion northwards. Japan would resist the loss of her leases there. Moreover, Japan, was the one country in the world on the verge of complete utilisation of all her food supply, and her difficulty was accentuated by the rapid advance in the standard of living in the last 20 or 30 years. Intensive agriculture was insufficient to support her population, and she had to depend on China for the raw materials to develop her industries and give her purchasing power for her food wants. Freer access to the Chinese markets was essential to her. Orientalism in Japan was fading in the true sense, and there was a greater clement of the European type of civilisation. While there was a militaristic party, Japan did not seek war, and preferred Democracy to Imperialism.

An Industrial Revolution. A matter of supreme importance in the East was the operation of the economic system where industrialism was taking place. The introduction of machinery into China, if made without care-, portended starvation conditions for millions of people. It seemed a paradox, but nevertheless was true, Machinery would throw many small farmers out of employment, and greatly reduce their purchasing power as a consequence. Western industrialism would have to be assimilated slowly because of the danger of creating unemployment, and it was imperative to foster secondary industries to absorb the labour displaced by machine* v. China was undergoing a renaissance period similar to the industrial revolution of some centuries back in England, but in'much greater proportion. The speaker, on the motion of Mr 11. Valder, was accorded a hearty voae of thanks for his address.