[TO THE EDITOR OF THE .scscrArort.^] SIR, —In your interesting article
on " The New Power " in your issue of September 9th you seem to infer by your words, the "contemptuous exclusion" of the Japanese by the United States, Australia, and British Columbia, that the Japanese are actually excluded by legislation from British Columbia. This is not the case. Section 3 of the British Columbia Immigration Act of 1904 reads as follows':— "The immigration into British Columbia of any person (herein- after called a prohibited immigrant) who, when asked to do so by an officer, fails to write out at dictation in the character of some language of Europe and sign in the character of some language of Europe, and sign in the presence of the officer a passage of fifty words in length in any European language directed by the officer is hereby prohibited."
No immigrant, therefore, be he Chinese, Japanese, negro, Polynesian, or other race, who can, from dictation, write fifty words of any European language, and sign his name thereto, can be prevented from entering the Western gate of the British Empire. Chinese immigration is at present seriously affected by this law; but a walk through the streets of this beautiful city would convince your writer that the Japanese are serious competitors with the white man in the field of labour.—I am, Sir, &c., THOMAS A. MARTIN. Vancouver, B.C.
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