THE SIKHS IN CANADA.
Many of the Sikh community here have seen active service in the Indian Army and wear medals awarded for special bravery.
A large number of them are engaged in agriculture, and of the remainder the majority are employed in railroad construction and maintenance, and in land clearing, factories and lumber mills.
By industry, enterprise and inherent temperate habits they have succeeded in making a competency for themselves. They own their dwelling houses and other property in the cities of Vancouver and Victoria and round about these places. They have invested in British Columbia in real estate and business several millions of dollars.
The authorities in Canada have found them law-abiding and peaceful citizens.
HOW THE DIFFICULTY AROSE.
In 1908 there was put into force by the Canadian Government in the Immigration Department restrictive legislation of such a character that immigration from India was practically stopped. This is shown by the fact that in the following years only 117 have entered Canada according to immigration reports, and many of these only after considerable litigation.
When the Indians had had time to get settled in Canada they naturally, as do other immigrants, began to think of bringing their wives and children to share their lives here. They then found that the restrictive legislation made this impossible. This is shown by the following cases: In 1911 Mr. Hira Singh, an ex-soldier, settled in Canada, went to India to bring his wife and child. On his return he was admitted as a Vancouver resident, but his wife and child were detained under a bond of $1,000 and were admitted only after three month's litigation, and then as an act of grace.
In 1912, Mr. Bhag Singh, who had served in the 10th Indian Cavalry, and Mr. Balwant Singh, at one time a soldier in the 36th Sikhs Infantry, had similar experiences. They had to give cash bonds for $2,000 and undergo more than three months of costly litigation before their wives and families were allowed to land in Vancouver and then as an act of grace.
EFFORTS FOR REDRESS.
In 1911 a deputation of three Sikhs and one Canadian ap- proached the Canadian Government with a petition in which it was said "The restriction that most presses and needs very immediate redress, is the regulations that make it impossible for the wives and children of the Hindustanis residing in Canada to join them. The compulsory separation of families is punitive and in itself penal, and can only lawfully be applied to criminals by any civi- lized nation. It is contrary to every human instinct and jeopardizes the existence of the family life, which is the very foundation of the British Empire as a whole."
In 1912 and 1913 petitions of a like nature were presented to the Canadian Government.
In 1913 three Sikhs were sent as representatives of the Indians in Canada to present their case to the Imperial and Indian Govern- ments, and especially to call attention to the fact that the restric- tive legislation of Canada "has the effect of placing the present Indian settlers in great hardship by precluding them from calling over their wives and children."
The Sikhs in British Columbia have given much effort and have spent over $200,000 in their endeavor to call attention to this dis- ability under which they suffer.
EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION.
Dr. Lawson, in "Daily Colonist," Victoria, 1913, said: "It was my duty to make a thorough physical examination of each emigrant at Hong Kong. I refer in particular to the Sikhs, and I am not exaggerating when I say that they were 100 per cent cleaner in their habits and freer from disease than the European steerage passengers I had come in contact with. The Sikhs impressed me as a clean, manly, honest race. I have not yet seen one good reason why they should not be permitted to bring their families in as freely as an European immigrant. Justice, humanity and morality all cry for the removal of the restrictions which prevent the Sikh's enjoy- ment of home life.'
Mrs. I. R. Broad, in "Daily Colonist,” 1913: "The patience of the Sikhs as British subjects is being sorely tried. I wonder how many in British Columbia consider how galling it must be to those men who have so often proved that their loyalty is of great import ance to the British Empire to see the Chinese and Japanese enjoy- ing home life here while they are debarred from the enjoyment of this great blessing. They understand the objections that can be raised against their coming in large numbers, but why not admit the families of those who are here?"
Elizabeth Ross Grace, Sask., in "Christian Guardian," 1915: "Three times during the past winter a Syrian Mohammedan pedlar has been at my door. The presence of these foreigners from
an enemy's land has forced to attention questions of our immigra- tion policy. Why are these Turkish Mohammedans allowed to en- joy the privileges of Canada with their wives and children, and our imperial brothers of India excluded? Why should the domiciled Hindus be refused the right of having with them their wives and children?"
"Such questions our Canadian soldiers will have asked them by the soldiers of India."'
TIME FOR CHANGE.
That many Canadian citizens are in sympathy with the efforts of the Indians to obtain the right to have their wives and families with them is evident from the expressions of opinion which have appeared from time to time in the Canadian press and elsewhere.
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