SMUGGLING CHINESE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 599, 30 August 1909, Page 3

SMUGGLING CHINESE.

A HONG-KONG BUSINESS. The Hong-Kong correspondent of the "Sydney Daily Telegraph," writing on July 22, says:—"lt has baen known for a very long time that Hong-Kong is the. home of a gang of men who make it a business to smuggle coolies into America and Australia. Of late Australia has had several experiences of the desperate ruics adopted to get the men in according to contract, and despite -the vigilance of the authorities othor plans are likely to be tried. The average coolie who makes his ninul up to go to Australia will risk the trials necessary to get there, and if he succeeds so much the-better. If he doesn't he has an ocean trip and several months in gaol when he gets back, a sojourn which does not worry- him much. "So far the police have been unable to obtain evidence- sufficient to enable them to make convictions, and so break down the practice -of smuggling, though once or twice they have been, near it. For instance, last week one Chinaiunu sued another for some GOO, dollars, which he alleged was due on, a promissory note, _ tho original, sum being money lent in the ordinary course of business. The plaintiff's story was plausible, but it was knocked cndwJEc when the defendant got in the box nnd produced two contracts for smuggling men into America. Hβ declared that the money was the balance due on those contracts. He had already paid some 500 dollrs to get two men in,- and the balance was to be paid when the men got to America. The men had not'got there, and'he declined to , pay. The magistrate believed, defendant , , and non-suited plaintiff, but the evidence did not give the police much to work on. They could not find out if the men had left the colony— that is the two coolies to be smuggled into tho States-so they were baffled, though they are keeping a sharp eye on the parties in the promissory note case. "A few days after this another case came up having direct interest for Australia. Chung Yu Ting sued Hung Kwok Lam for 1000 dollars, money lent, and in the course of evidence it transpired that the two men were engaged in getting "emigrants" through America/and Australia, particularly the Commonwealth. Hung stated that he inquired on behalf of plaintiff as to the rates on the Cranlcy-for getting men smuggled' through, and he ascertained that it would cost 600 dollars per head, the head fireman and the steward to take charge of the men for 500 dollars per head, whilst he received 100 dollars per head. Somo deal was mado whereby nn advance was pnid to the head fireman of 600 dollars, and 400 dollars was. paid to tho steward. Later the steamer Olive Branch was- mentioned,' and the steward of that boat agreed to take passengers at 580 dollars per head, but later reduced his price to 57G dollars. Proniissory notes wore made out with regnrd to six men whom it was desired to ship, tho-arrangement being that defendant was to collect the money from plaintiff on receipt of a letter-from tho passengers that they-had landed -in-Australia. Defendant went on board and saw tho passengers- oif, and subsequently he received two letters in one cnvolopo from Australia, saying tlie coolies had landed (so here is one batch the Cusioins failed to trap). He then went lo collect the money from the plaintiff, but the latter held him off, saying that he had not received any notification from Australia. "In cross-examination the witness staled -that ; he did not see or know that it was illegal to get passengers to Australia in that way, but ■ tho question was not pursued further. Plaintiff got judgment for 1000 dollars and costs, and the defendant, who iinule a comilerolaim for Jg'>o dollars, was non-suiled. "This public confession of smuggling, andacions in itself, should surely give tho police clues to work on, and, if they are as smart as they believe themselves to be,' the leaders of this kind of business should soon Iks put out of the road, and the' Commonwealth saved considerable- annoyance and expense."