CO129-433 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [5-6] — Page 626

The Hindu in Canada

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The migration of peoples from one part of the world to another is always interesting and especially is this the case with the Hindus of India who in the past settled in Java, Su- matra and other islands of the Indian Archi-

The modern movements pelago.

of these people constitute a story of absorbing im- portance. The fact that the Hindus have not emigrated to other parts of the world but have practically remained isolated and unto themselves, gives the movement of the Sikhs to Canada ita significance. The Hindus of recent years have moved in batches to South Africa, Australia, the Bri- tish West Indies, the Straits Settlements and the Far East. To all these countries they go generally from certain well-defined areas. One can almost point with a finger the par- ticular locality on the map from which the emigrants go to these parts of the world. The Hindus who have come to Canada are mostly Sikhs. They are from the Punjab and from a few districts round about Lahore. The density of population there is more than one per acre. They depend almost entirely on agriculture. There are hardly any industries to speak of, and it is primarily because of the overcrowded state of agriculture that the Sikh who is fond of fresh pastures goes abroad.

The first Sikhs to see Canada, I have been told, were those returning to India after the Diamond Jubilee celebration in London. They saw the vast prairies of this great Dominion which are not unlike the plains of the Pun- jab. There were the waving crops of wheat which is raised so well in their own province. It was not till 1904 that a very small number of these hardy men crossed from Hongkong to Vancouver. At first when they came it was hard to get work, but as soon as they gained their way, they found plenty to do. Their employers recommended these men to others for the hard-working and steady habits of the Sikhs. I have heard of the privations and bardships of these men when they came here first. One case I specially remember, a Sikh new-comer, who lived entirely on pota- toes like our friends the Irishmen for quite a considerable period.

There was no organized effort on the part of the Sikhs coming to Canada. It was all spontaneous. These men wrote back to their friends in the Far East of the great oppor tunities for labor in the Dominion. In China and nearby countries there is always a steady

stream of men from North India who work as policemen, soldiers and in various other capacities. This class was the next to come. They came in small parties from Hongkong, Shanghai, Manchuria and the Straits Settle- ments. They were accustomed to British laws and institutions. Then came the peasant proprietors of the Punjab, who mortgaged the small pieces of land handed down by their ancestors and who staked their all on the great venture.

It was in the years 1905 to 1908 that most of the Sikhs now domiciled in Canada landed in this country. They were tall and wiry men of fine physique. They came from a cold climate and were used to roughing it as they say out West.

The Chinese were the first of the Oriental newcomers, the Japanese were next to fol- In low, and the Sikhs came last of all, 1907-08 there was a financial panic and the results were spread far and wide. Work was hard to get, but the Sikhs by their practical self-denial and helping each other tided over the hard times. The Chinese having a Gov. ernment of their own are represented by consuls who take care of their interests. The Japanese can protect their nationals abroad, as is known to all. But with the Sikhs it was otherwise. During the stringency a great agitation was set on foot against the Orien. tals. Racial prejudice and passions rose high. Riots occurred against the Chinese and Japan- ese in 1907 and I have been told of a very anxious night which the Sikhs spent in their meeting house in Vancouver in 1908 when they heard rumors that this wave of fury and passion was to be let loose on them.

The Dominion Government through a Royal Commission, paid compensation for damages to property and loss of business and offered apologies to the Chinese and Japanese. The Hindus who were British subjects had come to British Columbia in 1907 in only one third as many numbers as the Japanese, and many of them, according to evidence taken on oath, as a result of the immigration propa- ganda of certain Canadian interests.

But somehow a malicious agitation was started against our people. Mis-statements and misrepresentations became the order of the day. The idea seemed to be when nothing else was on to start a scare about the Hindu peril. Confidential agents went to British Columbia to look into the trouble on behalf of the Government. Their reports were duly