Days of future past

Maddox’s sentiments were echoed by a Mr E. F. Andrews, who told the conference that ‘‘the Chinese were practically forcing every soldier in the fruit trade out of business’’. Similar concerns were expressed about the Asian impact in the fur and drapery trades and Asiatics were also said to have acquired ‘‘some of the finest farming land available’’.

Andrews’ main point would not have been out of place at a Ku Klux Klan rally. He opined ‘‘that there must be an effect upon race purity if some stringent measures were not taken to prevent the admission of these people into the country’’.

Chairman P. H. Watts, also from the Waikato, felt uncomfortable about the economic arguments presented. Suggesting that ‘‘the people did not require economic protection against these foreigners’’, Watts stated that ‘‘the main point was the overwhelming desire to keep the country white’’.

‘‘Racial purity’’ was also the principal concern of the Wellington RSA when it met six months later. Returned servicemen in Te Awamutu were more nuanced in their approach though, expressing their fears about the ‘‘intermingling of the Indian and Maori races”, asking the Native Minister to intervene to preserve iwi bloodlines.