The Formation of the White New Zealand Immigration Policy between the Years 1890 and 1907

Abstract

The White New Zealand immigration policy received its fullest verbal expression and became an established part of the colonial tradition during the Seddon-Ward Liberal period. This thesis attempts to trace in outline the legislation passed to implement the policy, its origins, the motives of those most directly concerned in bringing it into national prominence, and the creation of the favourable public opinion which was necessary to translate ideas into laws. The argument of the thesis is that workingclass fear of cheap-labour competition provided the initial driving force, but that during the course of the agitation the wider and more emotional appeal of racial purity and national greatness became dominant and was the decisive factor in carrying through successfully the movement to restrict coloured immigration, and make New Zealand a white man's country. Consistent opponents, like the Jew Samuel Shrimski, said the politicians were pandering to the prejudices of the mob when they favoured laws discriminating against Chinese and Indians. He was right, but the significant fact which he overlooked was that the "mob" included everyone from university graduates, surgeons, sheepfarmers, businessmen and society women, to bushfellers, goldminers, cabinetmakers, professional barroom drunks and housewives. All these were united, not on the specific question of competition which so concerned the trade councils, but on the higher plane of national destiny and racial superiority.