Star (Christchurch), Issue 9540, 12 May 1909

EXCLUDING CHINESE.^[1][]

AN ANTI-ASIATIC LEAGUE.[]

Mr J. Cameron, organising secretary of the New Zealand Anti-Asiatic League, is at present visiting Christchurch in the interests of the formation of further committees throughout New Zealand. He told a reporter last evening that he had had a very successful tour throughout the dominion, and it, is hoped that committees will be formed in every borough.

The League had its beginning in Masterton, but was moved to Wellington as being central. Its object was to promote legislation for the exclusion of Chinese from the dominion. It has been in existence for two and a half years, and Mr Cameron is endeavouring to arouse interest in the dominion.

He said that last year an Act was passed providing that Chinese should pass a reading test before landing. In reply to a deputation last year, the Prime Minister had promised to introduce legislation during the coming session in the directions asked for by the League. It was proposed to ask the Government to place a Stowaways Bill on the Statute Book, making owners and captains of vessels responsible for all Chinese landing in an unauthorised manner. The taking of finger-prints of Chinese before they landed and when they were leaving the dominion would also be proposed to aid detection. The whole object of the movement aimed at the total exclusion of Asiatics, and the people would be educated along the lines of a "White New Zealand," and asked to remove their patronage from Chinese merchants.

Mr Cameron says that fully 90 per cent of the people he has seen are in accord with his work. He will spend a few days in Christchurch.