I—l 7

from this suggestion, but quite a number of eastern Asiatics drifted to New Zealand during the " seventies." In 1879 the tendency for people of these races to immigrate to Australia was creating a problem of cheap labour, and Sir George Grey argued that if such a tendency developed in New Zealand the result would be disastrous for New Zealand's future. As a consequence of this outcry the Chinese Immigration Act was passed in 1881, limiting the number of Chinese to one for every ten tons of shipping, and imposing a poll-tax on all such immigrants. In 1888-89 the restriction was tightened up so that in future only one for every 100 tons of shipping was allowed. This was increased in 1896 to one for every 200 tons. The Asiatic Restriction Act of 1896 extended the provision to all Asiatics except British Indians. These Acts caused certain international repercussions, and hence the Immigration Restriction Act of 1899 was drawn up in non-racial terms. The discrimination against Chinese still remained, however, and was tightened up in 1901 and 1907, when the education test was imposed on Chinese also. By 1908, when all this legislation was consolidated, the policy of immigration restriction was generally accepted. The primary fear, at least in so far as Chinese were concerned, was economic, it being felt that a large influx of Chinese would seriously endanger living standards. Following the 1914-18 war, the Undesirable Aliens Exclusion Act was passed, aimed at preventing ex-enemv aliens and other disaffected and disloyal persons from coming to New Zealand. This Act gave power to prevent even British subjects who were disaffected or disloyal from landing in New Zealand. The Immigration Restriction Act of 1920 represents a still further step in the control of immigration into New Zealand. Educational tests were dropped and replaced by an individual permit system. All non-British subjects and people of some coloured races intending to reside in New Zealand must obtain a permit from the Minister of Customs, whose personal decision is final in any case. The poll-tax still remained for Chinese immigrants, and was, in effect, an attempt to prevent the emergence of cheap coolie labour. The poll-tax on Chinese was abolished in 1944, but prior to that date it had been waived for some time. In practice, however, the Act has been administered to prevent, inter alia, the immigration of cheap Chinese or coolie labour. The following statement, presented to the Committee by the Customs Department, sets out in detail the present law and practice regarding the problem of immigration restriction : SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION RELATING TO IMMIGRATION RESTRICTION AND &OTES REGARDING ITS ADMINISTRATION 1. Acts ,and Regulations The statutes and regulations relating to the restriction of immigration into New Zealand are the following : Immigration Restriction Act, 1908 : Immigration Restriction Amendment Act, 1910 : Immigration Restriction Amendment Act, 1920 : Immigration Restriction Amendment Act, 1923 : Finance Act (No. 3), 1944, Part II: Undesirable Immigrants Exclusion Act, 1919 : Immigration Restriction Regulations 1930, and Amendments Nos. 1-3. 2. Administration The Customs Department is charged with the administration of all matters coming within the scope of the Immigration Restriction Legislation.

32