THE DAILY PROVINCE
DECEMBER 9, 1913

p.3

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA,
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1913.
EMBARGO PLACED ON IMMIGRATION
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Artisans and Laborers from Abroad Must Not
Come to B. C. Until April.

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To Prevent Influx of Hindus, Government Issues a
General Order.

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Ottawa, Dec. 9,--The government has taken prompt and drastic notion
in dealing with the Hindu problem at the coast.
An order in council was passed yesterday prohibiting until March 31 the
entry to British Columbia of all artisans and laborers.
The order is general in its application and is not restricted to any
particular race or people coming from any particular country.
Officially the reason set for the government’s actions is the present
congested condition of labor on the Pacific coast; however, the matter was
brought to a head by the Hindu question arising out of the judgment of Chief
Justice Hunter of British Columbia, declaring in effect that the restrictions
heretofore imposed by the government in respect to immigrants of this class
are untenable and not constitutionally operative.
This opened the door to an influx of Hindus. The government realized
that the situation was serious as there was nothing to prevent whole
shiploads of Hindus from entering British Columbia precipitating possibly an
Imperial crisis.

THE DAILY PROVINCE
DECEMBER 9, 1913

p.3

The government decided to avail itself of section 38, which gives wide
and drastic powers in excluding immigrants, and the present order in council
was passed.
The government has been careful in dealing with the situations not to
discriminate against race or nation. This order consequently is made general
in its application and affects, for instance, the United States as much as any
other country, as immigration via border ports into British Columbia is also
prohibited.

The present is a temporary expedient called forth by the exceptional
conditions prevailing on the Pacific coast and its tenure is only until the end of
March. In the meantime an endeavor will be made to work out a permanent
solution of this vexatious problem.
The order in council is couched in the following terms:
“H. R. H. the Governor-General in council, under and in virtue of the
provisions of subsection 3 of section 38 of the Immigration Act 9-10 Edward
VII., and in view of the present overcrowded conditions of the labor market in
British Columbia, is pleased to make the following order: ‘From and after the
date hereof and until after the 31st day of March, 1914, the landing at any port
of entry in British Columbia hereinafter specified of any immigrant of any of
the following classes or occupations, namely, artisans, laborers (skilled or
unskilled) shall be and the same is hereby prohibited.’”
The order then specifies all of the ports of entry in British Columbia as
coming under its terms.