JAPS IN MEW CALEDONIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3125, 23 January 1911, Page 5

JAPS IN MEW CALEDONIA.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S VIEW

MR. FISHER IMPRESSED

The Federal Government is taking official cognisance of “The Sydney team’s” article yesterday entitled ‘‘Forward the Jap, Jap,” which dealt with the invasion of New Caledonia by thousands of Japanese, who are being sent to that island to work in the nickel mines. The Prime Minister was informed of the interviews which were obtained from the island' yesterday, which contained the startling statement that the latest batch of Japs landed, 1016 in number, included many men who were clever artificers, and nearly all the immigrants were men who had taken an active part in the Russo-Japanese war." _ This morning Mr. Fisher said that the matter would be very carefully gone into, and the Immigration Restriction Act would be brought into operation immediately- in the event of any of the brown men crossing to Quensland or the Northern Territory from 'New Caledonia. “The whole thing is certainly a subject for grave suspicion,” said the Prime Minister, “especially after what we have heard and read of the Japanese encroachments in Hawaii and Manila. ‘I am especially impressed with the seriousness of the position because of Svhat I saw of the Indians in Natal during my recent visit to South Africa.” Mr. Fisher again emphasised the fact that efforts will be made to discoverwliat is really the position of the Japaaie.se in New Caledonia.