'I thought they only want a fair day's wage for a fair day's work?'
'That may do in the Old Country, but here they mean to boss the country.
They do.'
'And how does the country like it?'
'We're about sick of it. It don't matter much in flush
times - employers'll do most anything sooner than stop work - but when we
come to a pinch, you'll hear something. We're a rich land - in spite of
everything they make out - but we're held up at every turn by Labour.
Why, there's businesses on businesses which friends of mine - in a small
way like myself - want to start. Businesses in every direction - if they
was only allowed to start in. But they ain't.'
'That's a pity. Now, what do you think about the Japanese question?'
'I don't think. I know. Both political parties are playing up to the
Labour vote - if you understand what that means.'
I tried to understand.
'And neither side'll tell the truth - that if the Asiatic goes, this side
of the Continent'll drop out of sight, unless we get free white
immigration. And any party that proposed white immigration on a large
scale 'ud be snowed under next election. I'm telling you what
politicians think. Myself, I believe if a man stood up to Labour - not
that I've any feeling against Labour - and just talked sense, a lot of
people would follow him - quietly, of course. I believe he could even get
white immigration after a while. He'd lose the first election, of
course, but in the long run.... We're about sick of Labour. I wanted you
to know the truth.'
'Thank you. And you don't think any attempt to bring in white
immigration would succeed?'
'Not if it didn't suit Labour. You can try it if you like, and see what
happens.'
On that hint I made an experiment in another city. There were three men
of position, and importance, and affluence, each keenly interested in
the development of their land, each asserting that what the land needed
was white immigrants. And we four talked for two hours on the matter - up
and down and in circles. The one point on which those three men were
unanimous was, that whatever steps were taken to bring people into
British Columbia from England, by private recruiting or otherwise,
should be taken secretly. Otherwise the business of the people concerned
in the scheme would suffer.
At which point I dropped the Great Question of Asiatic Exclusion which
is Agitating all our Community; and I leave it to you, especially in
Australia and the Cape, to draw your own conclusions.
Externally, British Columbia appears to be the richest and the loveliest
section of the Continent. Over and above her own resources she has a
fair chance to secure an immense Asiatic trade, which she urgently
desires. Her land, in many places over large areas, is peculiarly fitted
for the small former and fruit-grower, who can send his truck to the
cities.
