ANTI-LASCAR LEGISLATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3169, 15 March 1911, Page 2

ANTI-LASCAR LEGISLATION.

A COLONIAL “THY ON.” Continuing its criticism of the New Zealand Anti-Lascar Bill. ‘•Fairplay” says:—“One cannot but be struck with the bluff displayed on the whole of the Seeing that ,the New Zealand Government recognise that the international (limit of jurisdiction is only three miles, and that this request for the extension of marine jurisdiction is merely to enable it to legislate with regard to-wages, it is a little difficult to take the colonial authorities seriously, or to form any high opinion as to their legislative capacity, when Acts are passed merely, as a schoolboy would say, as a 'try on but a very serious international question is raised if the Home Government is to be asked to extend territorial jurisdiction in the case of these colonies for some hundreds of miles. This country has at present in hand l a dispute with Russia in regard to the extension of the territorial limit in the White Sea, not by 2000 miles, but by'nine only, and it is difficult to see how objection can be taken to the limited demands of Russia if any countenance is to lie given to the pretensions of the New Zealand .Government. There ‘is no doubt that the only course open to the British Government at the Imperial Confeienee is to refuse to approve the New Zealand request.”