THE ASIATICS.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17836, 8 October 1929, Page 9

THE ASIATICS.

(To the Editor.) 1 Sir,— Periodically we seen an anI nounccment in an Auckland paper that 1 a dozen or so of Chinese and fairly numerous Indians have entered that port during the week, but there is no word to indicate that this immigration is offset by departures. Then the White New Zealand League or some ignorant individual imagines that I lie newspaper is telling the whole truth and sends up a cry of alarm. Comes the Minister’s reply (as reported today) : “No new Asiatics had been admitted as permanent residents. Twelve who came in were returned New Zealand residents. Nine were admitted for short periods as visitors, and nine were refused admittance.” One expects the Government to keep a severe check on immigration when unemployment is rife, but is anything to be gained by continually holding up all Asiatics as bogey-men and bogey-women and bogey-children? I have mingled with the peoples of the East for many years, and my experience is that the racial differences arc entirely on the surface and that the real character is personal. I think we could better afford to treat them with respect than to force our way into their countries and exploit them there while driving them off as pariahs from our shores. May I suggest two steps that might be taken without endangering our labour market in the least: Could we not arrange with our fellow Britons in Fiji to prevent Indians from leaving there for New Zealand unless they are of a class to he admitted? It must create needless bitterness to turn people back after they have paid for their passage. Secondly, should we not encourage those Asiatics who are with us to bring their wives and children? At present, I understand, wives and children are excluded along with others, and when Chinese wives wore admitted, £IOO poll-tax had to be paid for each. Bands of single men coming into a country lend to lower the standards of living both economically and socially. It is really greatly to the credit of Asiatic residents in the Dominion that, being deprived of ail family life for the most part, they behave so well. A little regard for the Christian Golden Rule on our part would do no harm.—l am, etc., J.A.B. Hamilton, October 7.