CAPITAL AND COLOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2649, 3 November 1909, Page 2

CAPITAL AND COLOR.

[Correspondence on public matters -is welcomed at all times, but it must b« distinctly understood that this journal is in no way associated with the opinions of its correspondents. All letters must be legibly written and inscribed j>n one side of the paper .only, otherwise they will not. bo published. “An asterisk at tho foot of a letter indicates that some portion has been excised.J

[To the Editor.] Sir, —T regret to note that the old anti-white Australian agitation , that simmers up in the ranks of professional religionists from time to time, has brokenout again at Congress in Melbourne, and well paid prelates whose incomes, are derived chiefly from the wealthy and non-productive portion of tho community have been clamoring for indentured colored labor to develop the country, and incidentally fatten the pockets of their capitalist patrons. “What right has Australia to hold such a largo tract of country and do nothing with it?” asks Bishop Riley, yet apart from the question under discussion he shows no desire to propagate this theoretically socialistic principle. The religious aspect might well be kept out of what is purely a matter of commercial polities, yet the Bishop of Brisbane advocates indentured colored labor as a remedy for what he describes as an “unchristian principle.” If he proposed turning the land thus developed to the use of the people, there would be something of Christianity, or at any rate nothing unchristian, in his own suggestion, but as it is the worthy Bishop’s policy is for the profit of the lew rather than the many. The dividends of the companies who exploited the country would increase, and with them the number of gold pieces dropped in the plate on Sunday, but the people of Australia on the whole would gam nothing. Does the Colonial Sugai; Refining Company, for instance, which employs so much indentured labor in I'iji, devote its huge profits to the public good by lowering the price of sugar? Does it even pay its white employees in ' proportion to its gains? Of course not! And any syndicate wealthy enough to open up the Northern Territory on the same lines as the C.S.R.Co. have opened up Fiji would act in precisely the same mariner. To keep our “black brudder” out of Australia may be unchristian, but if it comes to that where dees the doctrine of Christianity have a word to say in favor of money-grub-bing, or capitalistic monopoly? In any case if these prelates are 'oriniming over with Christian benevolence, one might suggest that there are plenty of poor white men in Australia, and even New Zealand who need assistance. And as for England! Why in London alone the unemployed last month totalled 27,000. It is pleasing to note that Canon Stephen and others held opposite views, and supported the white ideal to the credit of themselves and their church. Colored people should be excluded from white countries at all costs for only racial degeneracy ana other untold evils can result from their admission, which can only be advocated for purposes of selfish capitalism.—l etC ' J * ‘ANTI-HUM BUC. ’ ’