Amor de Cosmos petitions Prime Minister John A Macdonald re: suppressing Chinese immigration in the House of Commons, May 12, 1882.

De Cosmos, Amor. “Suppressing Chinese Immigration.” House of Commons Debates. Canada. Parliament. House of Commons. 4th Parl., 4th sess. 1882. (Pages 1476 to 1478) 147d COMMONS DEB.ATES. MAY 12, 1 down at a late period of the Session when late sittings are CHINESE IMMIGRATION. necessary, and when the official reporters are tired out, so that it is impossible to discuss them, and impossible for the Mr. DECOSMOS. Chinese immigration appears likely to Blansard reporters to report fully the speeches of hon. gen- become a very seriuus matter. From time to time, the question tlemen on bot b sides, on subjects which they consider as very of Chinese immigration into the Province of British Columbia important. It is impossible to report them in such a way bas been brouglit before th House; from time to time, the as to have the views of hon. members conveyed to the Legislative Assembly of that Province passed resolutions country through the medium of the official reports. The and sent Addre:-ses to the Governor General, asking the othor evening, as an instance, I had the honor to make Government here to take some neasures to stop the flow of some remarks on a subject of immense importance to my Chinese laborers into that Province; but, up to the present own county. I spoke, perhaps, for half an hour, and spoke moment, no action has been taken by the Government purely to the question before the House, as the leader of whatever. A recent telegram, however, brings the matter the Government knows. I referred to the comparative neces- more forcibly under our notice, and it is a matter of pretty sity of providing public buildings of a certain kind in my gencral comment by the press throughout the Dominion, own county. I spoke on the subject with considerable that the Chinese are flowing into British Columbia in such earnestness, and I thought with considerable force, but in numbers as to prove destructive, in ail probability, to white the Bansard report there was not a single word of what labor. A telegram, dated Victoria, May 9th, states: I said on that occasion. That may have been all right. " 24,009 Chinese in ail are expected before August. The Chinese in I know, at the same time, that remarks made by hon. the Province will number 32,000, and will outnumber the wbites." gentlemen opposite, and the criticisms of members of the Now, Sir, when we recollect that the United 'States Government who did not agree with me entirely, were not Government recently enacted a law to prohibit the reported. I cnly refer to the matter to show that speeches immigration of Chinese laborers for ton years; that made in the early part of the day may be thoroughly re- along the coast of Mexico there is little or no employ- ported, while, owing to the Government's delay in bringing ment for Chinese; that when we come to the Central down important measures, and the consequent lateness of the American States, there is none, or very little ; that sittings, there are many speeches that cannot be reproduced when wo go to New Grenada, Peru, and Chili, we find that in the pages of Blansard. there is little or nothing for them to do; that when we cross Motion agreed to. the ocean to the Hawaiian Kingdom, we find that they are driving out the native population, and the other population Mr. STEPHENSON moved that the third report of the too; that when we go to the Australian colonies, we find Select Committee appointed to supervise the debates of the that the colony of Queensland bas for some years had two louse be adopted. Acts on its Statute-book, sanctioned by Her Majesty's Government, in order to keep out the Chinese-one of which Mr. BLAKE. Is that the report with reference to the imposes contracts. a poll-tax of £10 sterling on every Chinaman who enters the country, and the other a tax of £3 sterling on Mr. STEPHENSON. Yes. every Chinaman who enters the mines-we can easily under- stand that Mr. BLAKE. I think the hon. gentleman should give these countries are vigorously protecting them- selves against Chinese immigration. Last December, I us some idea of the comparative cost of the service as wrote changes. to the Agent-General of New South Wales in London, involved in these and I received the following reply:- Mr. STEPHENSON. The same contracter las the con- " WUsTUINIsTER CHABERs, tract for the composition as this year, but the composition "VICTORIA STRET, 9th January, 1882. will be 60 cents instead of 40 cents a thousand; the press SDEIAR SiR,-In reply to your note of the 16th ultimo, asking for a work per token is 30 cents; folding per sheet one-tenth of copy of New South Wales Act respecting Chinese immigration, I regret a cent; alterations per hour, 25 cents; extra copies of my inability to comply with your request. There has not been time for copies to reaeb me from the colony. Immediately I receive them I shall speeches per thousana, 75 cents; the binding is less than it have great pleasure in sending a copy for your acceptance. I know by was before, being 90 cents per volume; the translation a newspaper telegram that a poll-tax of £10 bas been determined upon, costs $1.75 per page, compared with $2.50 under the present and that ships arriving in the colony are not allowed to carry more in proportion to tonnage than, I believe, one for every one hundred tons. contract. 'l am, dear Sir, "Yours very truly, Mr. MACKENZIE. The composition seems high. 'lSAUL SAMUELS, fr. STEPHENSON. The hon. member must bear in "Agent-Generaljor New South Wa4es." mind that the work is all night work, and if we are to have The great object of the Chinese in coming to British the daily issue of the Bansard laid on the Table of the House Columbia will be, failing to get employment there, to make at three o'clock every day, we need not expect to get the their way across the border to the Uuited States. The composition done for the ordinary day rate. The regular United States, however, by the recent Act bas prohibited trade rates in the city are, I believe, 33J cents a thousand, them. The New York Times of May 9th, states : and wben you take into consideration-to use a printers' " The President has signed the new Bill to suspend the immigration phrase- that there is no "fat " in this matter, that it is all of Chinese laborers for a period of ten years. It is to be hoped that "solid" matter, I think the price cannot be regarded as this will settle the much-vexed Chinese question for a time at least. excessive, considering The Bill was drawn with special reference to the objections raised by the rate paid to printers for ordinary the President in bis message disapproving the first Bill passed by Con- day work. Moreover, there was only one tender put in, gress. As it now stands, the law suspends the immigration of Chinese which we did not accept on its first presentation ; but we laborers, whether skilled or unskilled, or employed in mining. It pro- had a conference with them and arranged prices vides for a system of certificates, to be issued on the identification of and terms, Chinese persons now living in this country, or who may hereafter arrive so that they are made the most satisfactory we could possibly here under provisions of the law authorizing them to come. The make them, and I think they will be satisfactory to the House naturalization of all Chinese is expressly forbidden. Various fines and and the country. penalties are imposed upon the masters of vessels who shal bring unauthorized Chinese persons in this coantry, and upon any who shall Mr. BLAKE. Does the hon. gentleman say that the forge, alter or make fraudulent use of the certificates to be issued to Chinese who are allowed residence in the United States. The Bill, as it general result is that the cost of the service remains the has become a law, does not infringe upon any of the rights of China as same. defined in existing treaties. The people of California will probably-be satisfied with all its features, unless they may object to the shortness of Mr. STEPHENSON. About the same. the term during which immigration is to be spended." Mr. KILLAM. 1882. COMMONS DEBATES. 1477

Now, I would ask the Government whether they are been deaIt with in the Australian Provinces. At present prepared to introduce any measure this Session, no matter every white man can be employed in British Columbia at how brief, with a view to repress the immigration of Chinese good'wages. The Government have had no information of an into British Columbia? There has been a general feeling alarming influx of Chinese. This is the first I beard of abroad that in the absence of white labor in that country a these 24,000 Chinese immigrants, and I think the report muet certain number of Chinese would be admitted into the be mythical. I h&.ve seen in the newspapers, however, a country to work on the railway; but even that the people statement that several vessels had been chartered to bring have objected to, But, under the circumstances, 1 believe over Chinese laborers to work on this railway, to which 1 the general feeling would be to allow a certain number in think there can be no objection. I share very much the for this purpose. If, however, they are to corne into the feeling of the people of the United States, and the Austra- country, by the middle of August, to the number of 24,000, lian colonies, against a Mongolian or Chinose population in the country will be overrun by Chinese, as it will then have our country as permanent settiers. I believe they would not 32,000, who will, as stated in the telegram, outnumber the be a wholesome element for this country. I believe that it is entire white population. It strikes me that in view of the an alien race in every sense, that would not and action of the United States Government, some action ought could not be expected to assimilate with our to be taken by the Canadian Government to repress that Arian population ; and, therefore, if the temporary immigration; and I put it to the hon. gentleman opposite, necessity had been overcome, and the railway constructed in the common interest, as well as in the interest of the across the continent, with the means of sendi the Euro- country, whether or not something cannot be doue to relieve pean settlers and laborer into British Coumnlia, thon it British Columbia from the Chinese difficulty? would be quite right to join to a reasonable extent in pre- Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD. It is rather inconvenient venting the permanent settlement in this country of Mon- that this subject should be brought up without notice of golian, Chinese or Japanese immigrants. At present it is any kind; and the bon. gentleman must be satisfied with a simply a question of alternatives-either you must have very brief and perhaps unsatisfactory answer. No complaints this labor or you cannot have the railway. The Govern- have reached the Goverument of serious interfer- ment have not had their atttention called to this sub- ence with white labor in British Columbia, from ject of late; but it is a matter of so great importance that it the influx of Chinese labor. In fact, there is such will engage our attention, and that of every publie man in a want of white labor in British Columbia, that this House, to discover how far we can admit Chinese labor if you wish to have the railway finished within any without introducing a permanent ovil to the country by reasonable time, there muet be no such step against allowing to come into it, in some respects, au inferior race, Chinese labor. It is certain that British Columbia suffers and, at all events, a foreign and alien race. Of course, very much from the want of a steady flow into it of white British Columbia, from its geographical position and prox- immigration; and until the Pacifie Railway is finished, I imity to the ocean, ie that portion of the Dominion that will fancy that difficulty will always continue. It is of very chiefly suffer from an influx of this description of settlers. great importance, in order to enable British Columbia to Mr. DECOSYIOS. I am glad to hear the hon. leader of get the advantage of the flow of emigration from Europe, the Government express an opinion favorable to repressin that the railway should be finished as early as possible. Chinese immigration at some time in the future; but When Mr. Onderdonk was here in the beginning of the believe it will be found, by the experience of the present Session, he told me ho employed every white man he could year, that that future will not be very distant. The point, get, and that ho tried to get every white laborer from Canada however, to which I wish to draw your attention is this: that he needed. le asked me, for instance, if I could recom- The hon. gentleman has intimated that the Government has mend to him a reliable, a respectable man, a master builder had no information bearing on the question of Chinese or carpenter, who might get him the carpenters he wanted. immigration. I have only to draw his attention to this fact: I found him such a man, and he took over from Canada that at almost every Session of the Legislature of British flfty or sixty carpenters to help him. Mr. Onderdonk said Columbia since 1871 resolutions or addresses have been also that he expected at one time to be able to get sufficient passed by the Legislative Assembly and forwarded to the white labor from the United States; but such was the extent Secretary of State of Canada dealing with this question. to which the construction of new railroads were proceeding The hon. gentleman remarked that Chinese were useful as in the United States this year, that ho could really get no servants in Victoria. No doubt they are used as servants satisfactory labor, but only the clls and refuse, persons who there, and are appreciated, but the number of servants in could get no employment at San Francisco, to work on the Victoria altogether would not probably amount to over 200, British Columbia Railway. I presume that this influx of which is a very small number in comparison with the 4,000 Chinese is greatly caused by the demand for labor for the or 5,000 Chinese in British Columbia, as shown by the construrtion of the railway. Whether the hon. gentleman Census report, and sirce that Census 4,000 or 5,000 more is correctly informed as to 24,000, or 10,000, or 5,000 have been added to enter into competition with white labor. Chinese coming into British Columbia, I have no means of With regard to the point raised that Chinese labor on rail- knowing. But if they are coming, it is inerely to work on ways would bo very acceptable in the absence of white the railway, to finish it as soon as possible, and we may well labor, I believe that as a choice between evils the Province put up with the temporary inconvenience, as I understand would accept Chinese labor for the purpose of constructing it, of the presence of these Chinese. A good many people the railway ; but, at the same time, the Legislature and the in Vancouver Island, who keep bouse, tell me that if they people are looking anxiously to this Government ta take had not Chinese servants, they would have none at all; and some action to put down Chinese immigration, and such I have no doubt things are still worse on the mainland. action would be the more easy now since there is a ten no women to British Columbia with The Chinese bring put on such immigration in the United States them, and are not likely, therefore, to be permanent years limit settlers. Nor do I hear that there is any danger of misce- Mr. ROCHESTER. I do not know what the difficulty genation or a mingling of the races. So that after they is with regard to Chinese labor in British Columbia, but I have finished this particular work they can go back to do know the people of Canada would be glad if they had China again. Whenever a practical difficulty arises, it is Chinese or other labor. Agriculturists in Ontario, find it quite in the bands of the Legisiature to deal with it, in the utterly impossible to procure labor. During the last few manner in which it bas been dealt with, after a great many days, a few batches of immigrants arrived in Ottawa-and they years experiene, in the United States, and as it las 3were only a few hours here when they were carried off tq 1478 OOMMONS DEBA'ES. MÀY 12,

different parts of the country, and ten times as many more Borden, Billiard, Poupore, Bourassa, Holton, Reid, would have been employed had they arrived. We are in Bourbeau, Borer, Richey, the sanie position with regard to our mill work. Mill Bowell, Hooper, Rinfret, hands are very scarce, and it is almost impossible to get a Brecken, Huntington, Robertson (Hamilton), supply of laborers to do the work required to be done. Brown, Irvine, Rochester, Bunting, Jones, Rogers, British Columbia has so much work to do in building rail- Burnhar, Kaulbach, Rouleau, ways, that she ought to be thankful to get in Chinese labor, Burpee (St. John), Killam, Routhier, or the labor of any other country, to do it. The people of Burpee (Sunbury), King, Ryan (Montreal), Oameron (Victoria), Kirkpatrick, Ryial, Ontario would be very glad if they could have an oppor- Oarlinge Kranz, scot, tunity of employing Chinese labor. Caron, Langevin, Scriver, Oartwright, Lantier, Bhaw, Ocasey, Lauriere Sutherland, REDISTRIBUTION OF SEATS. Oasgraulà Macdonald (Sir John), Telrier, (âhicoutimi) Me Donald(OapeBretonThompson, Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD, in moving the third read- Colby,Cimon MIcDonald (Victoria.,N.S)TilIey, ing of Bill (No. 158) to readjust the representation in the Couglilin,' Macdonell(Lanark), Trow, House of Commons and for other purposes, said: The point Coupai, Mackenzie, Tupper, oursol, Macmihlant Tyrwhitt, reserved was whether we could not make the elections in Daly, Mcarthy,' Vain, Manitoba the same day as in the other Provinces. On Daoust, McDougald, Wade, making enquiry I came to the conclusion it would not be Dawson, McDougall, Wallace (lforfolk), Desaulaiers, MoLelan, Walace (York), safe to alter the law as it is now. Domville, Malouin, Wheler, Mr. PATERSON (Brant). It will be remembered by the Dumont, Merner, White (Cardwel1), Farrow, Méthot, White (Hastings), Hlouse that in discussing this Bill in Committee yesterday, Fiset, Milhs, White (Benfrew).-124. when the electoral division of the north ridirg of Bruce was Fleming, under consideration, the hon. the leader of the Government stated,in response to the motion made by the hon. member for Messieurs that riding, that he was willing to adopt some change with Bill, Landry, Rosa (Dundas), reference to that division so far as regarded its population. Bolduce, Lane, Rykert Oimon (Oharlevoix), Mccallum, Sproule, Though not entirely satisfactory to my own views as Costigan, McRory, Vallée, opposed to those of hon. members opposite, yet there is no Gigault, Ogden, Vanasse.-15. doubt it would tend to equalize the population in a greater degree than they are equalized in the Bill as it now stands. Amendment considered in Committee and reported. It would be without any great political consequence it is On motion for third reading, true, but it would, notwithstanding, in a degree, remedy the Mr. PATERSON. I great inequality of population that exists between the west desire to follow up this amendment and north riding of Bruce in this Bill. I therefore beg to with another motion I had prepared with reference to the move the following amendment, which I am sure the hon. matter, and which the First Minister will agree with me is a Government will accept:- necessary motion to be made. I could not think, of course, the leader of the of detaching Port Elgin from the township of Saugeen, and That the Bill be not now read a third time but be re-committed to the therefore, the hon, gentleman agreeing with me in that Committee of the Whole Bouse, with instructions to amend the same by providing that the village of Port Elgin shal form part of the view, as hedid ,I am happy to say-- electoral district of the north riding of the county of Bruce. Sir JOHN A. MACDONAD. Not by a long chalk; that Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD. When the hon. gentle- will not do. man said, last night, that Saugeen and Port Elgin should Mr. PATERSON. I am now about to follow it up with be added to North Bruce, I said the Government was pre- a motion that the township of Saugeen in which is the town pared to go half way and give Port Elgin. Is the hon. of Port Elgin, shall also be added to the north riding of gentleman serious in proposing to take away Port Elgin Bruce. I am sure it will commend itself to the favorable from Saugeen and put it in North Bruce, or does he propose consideration of the House. Consequently, I beg to move: that the strip of land lying between Port Elgin and the That the Bill be re-committed with instructions to provide that the presont southern boundary of North Bruce shall be added township of Saugeen shall form part of the electoral district of the to North Bruce ? north riding of the county of Bruce. Mr. PATERSON, With the view of meeting the hon. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD. I think this amend ment gentleman, and taking what I could in the way cf carrying shows to what extent hon. gentlemen are willing to go-I out the principle of the Bill, I move this amendment first, was going to say they are factions. Last night it was and thon, having given the hon, gentleman an opportunity proposed that Saugeen and Port Elgin should be put into to yield gracelully on this point, in favor of which he has the north riding. Well, I suggested that we would go expressed himself, I will give him an opportunity to go half way and put in Port Elgin. That was scouted by the the proer length by attaching the township of Saugeen to hon. gentlemen opposite, but to-day we have just voted for NorthJBruce as well. it. The hon. gentleman's proposition is factions. The hon. Amendment (Mr. Paterson) agreed to, on the following gentleman said: "Let Saugeen go, we willgo half-way;" and division:- therefore the Bill passed as it was originally introduced. The hon. gentlemen changed their minds, and they now YUAs: want the full loaf. We offered half a loaf by adding Port Messieurs Elgin to North Bruce, and they voted for it. Now they Âmyot, Flynn, Mongenais, to Angn , Fortin, Montplaisir, want me to give them the whole loaf and allow Saugeen Arkell , Gillies, Mousseau, go into North Bruce. I shall vote against that. Bain, Gilimor, O'Connor, Bannerman, Girouard (Jac. Cartier),O livier, Amendment (Mr. Paterson, Brant) negatived on the fol- Barnard, Girouard (Kent), Orton, lowing division : - Beches, Grandbois, Ouimet, bchd, Gunu, Paterson (Brant), Benoit, Guthrie, Pickard, Messieurs Bergeron, Hackett, Pinsonneault, Anglin, Fleming, Mackenzie, BeHaggart, Platt, Bain, Flynn, Malouin, Blke.Hay, Pope (Oompton), Béchard, Giller Mils, kr. RocamsTER.