Mr. Chairman and gentlemen. it is an axiom of civilized nations to consider a person honest and linocent until the contrary Is proven. According to the proposition before us every immigrant is supposed to have a prison record. Ile is supposed to be a crook simply because he wants to come to this country to live. But the great bulk of the immigration of the last 100 years was honest. It was nothing like the immigration of the seventeenth century. when every immigriii to certain parts of the American Colonies had a prison record. because Great Britain used large sections of her possessions as penal colonies. We know from history that in those days English judges were in the habit of deporting AngloSaxon criminals instead of hanging them. For many years this was considered a part of the regular court procedure. and in many instances the judges would simply send pickpockets. thieves. and prostitutes to these shores. because here was the penal colony. Great Britain did the same for New South Wales. Australia. and Tasmanianow New Zealandfor a while. And many of these criminals became useful citizens and some descendants even "Revolutionary sires." I suppose. But I can not see wily we should ask questions of that kind from the present immigration. Moreover. under the provisions of this bill the burden of proof is put upon the immigrant. He must. prove that lie has no prison record. Why should we put the proof on the immigrant?
Identified stereotypes
Assuming every immigrant has a prison record.