DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. DESPATCH RELATIVE TO THE INTRODUCTION OF CHINESE LABOUR INTO THE TRANSVAAL COLONY.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1905 Session I, A-02b

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1905. NEW ZEALAND.

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. DESPATCH RELATIVE TO THE INTRODUCTION OF CHINESE LABOUR INTO THE TRANSVAAL COLONY.

Laid upon the Table by Command of His Excellency. (New Zealand, No. 12.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 26th January, 1905. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 92, of the 10th November,* forwarding a resolution passed by the Legislative Council and House of expressing regret at the introduction of Chinese labour into the Transvaal without the express sanction of the white population by vote having been first obtained or Eesponsible Government being granted. 2. A similar resolution was passed by the Federal Legislature of the Australian Commonwealth last year, the reply to which is contained in my despatch to the Governor-General of Australia, published at page 3 of the Parliamentary Paper Cd.-2104, of which a copy is enclosed. 3. His Majesty's Government have never questioned the right of the Legislature of New Zealand to express their views with regard to the subject of the resolution, but they adhere to their opinion that, in the exceptional condition of things existing at the time -when the Transvaal Labour Importation Ordinance was passed, the question of the introduction of Chinese labour was one of such extreme urgency that it impossible to await the establishment of Eesponsible Government, and that no referendum could have been taken without the provision of electoral machinery and the definition of electoral qualifications, which would have involved long delay. 4. The action taken by His Majesty's Government was that which they believed to be in accordance with the views of the great majority of the white population of the Transvaal, and was in harmony with their policy of treating the Transvaal as a self-governing colony, so far as its internal affairs are concerned, where no Imperial interest is involved. I have, &c, ALFEED LYTTELTON. Governor the Eight Honourable Lord Plunket, X.C.V.0., &c.

* A.-l, 1905, No. 16,

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EXTHACTS FROM PARLIAMENTARY PAPER Cd-2104.

*-!<** * * * * * No. 5. Governor-General Lord Northcotb (Australia) to Mr. Lyttelton. (Received 2nd May, 1904.) Commonwealth of Australia, Governor-General, Sir,— Melbourne, 28th March, 1904. I have the honour to inform you that a resolution has been passed in both branches of the Federal Legislature on the subject of the proposed introduction of Chinese into the Transvaal in the following terms: " That this House records its grave objection to the introduction of Chinese labour into the Transvaal until a referendum of the white population of the colony has been taken on the subject, or Responsible Government is granted." 2. I should, perhaps, inform you that the above resolution was carried unanimously in the Senate and by a large majority in the House of Representatives. I have, &c, Northcote, Governor-General.

* * * * * * * * * No. 8. Mr. Lyttelton to Governor-General Lord Northcote (Australia). My Lord,— Downing Street, 20th May, 1904. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 28th March,* containing the terms of a resolution passed in both branches of the Federal Legislature, recording their objection to the introduction of Chinese labour into the Transvaal until a referendum of the white population of the colony has been taken on the subject or Responsible Government is granted. While His Majesty's Government fully recognise the right of the Legislature of the Australian Commonwealth to express their opinion in regard to so important a matter as the introduction of Chinese labour into the Transvaal, a country which owes so much to the part played by Australians in the recent war, His Majesty's Government regret that, for the reasons which have been stated in discussion upon the matter in Parliament during its present session, they have been unable to adopt the policy advocated in the resolution. In the exceptional condition of things then and now existing in the Transvaal, the question was one of extreme urgency, and it was therefore clearly impossible to await the establishment of Responsible Government; nor could a referendum have been taken without the provision of electoral machinery and the definition of electoral qualifications, which would have involved long delay. His Majesty's Government adhere to the policy of treating the Transvaal as a self-govern-ing colony, so far as its internal affairs are concerned, where Imperial interests are not involved ; and the presence of active local support and the absence of active local opposition to the Ordinance, which was passed by 22 votes to 4 in the Legislative Council, has confirmed His Majesty's Government in their conviction that this legislation is in entire harmony with the views of a large majority of the white population of the country. I have, &c, Alfred Lyttelton. *No. 5.

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