A PLEA FOR THE CHINESE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 601, 1 September 1909, Page 4

A PLEA FOR THE CHINESE.

SPEECH BY MR, HWANG. THE LAUNDRY BUSINESS MENTIONED. (By Tclcerapb.—Special'CorruD6ndeiit.l'. Auoltland, August 31. : Speaking at tho banquet given in his honour last night, tho Chinese Consul (Mr. Hwang) had somo interesting remarks to make. He did not, ho said, know the meaning of the words "Yellow Peril." There would never be anything to fear from China, and all she wanted was "fair play. China had no aggressive'ideas, - and no desiro to seize what was the bread and butter of other nations./ Did tho cry of a yellow peril mean peril commercially? He did not think so. As long as tho Chinese merchants remained truo to their traditions of honesty,' impartiality, friendliness, and generoiisness, she would never be a menaco to tho world in this respect. The term "Yellow Peril" was ,ono which he regarded as very unreasonable. China was a moral country, and its motto was: "A Country of Purity." In regard to what had been said about tho cost of living amongst tho Chinese, ho would remind them that, as their civilisation ad-' vanccd, so the cost of living wonld advance. China was making many mistakes, but she was gradually making her way through, and the pcoplo of China.were at all times loyal and honest. Tho Chinese in Now Zealand were obedient • to what tho' Mother' Country had taught' them—to 'bo peaceful,' honest, industrious, humble, and. kind. They did not contribute to the Mother Country as far as money was concerned, but they had that good senuoof .loyalty, and so it wa3 that, through all parts of the world the , Chinese had proved, _ that thero was nothing to fear in this' cry of a yellow peril. While ' in the Dominion ho had made a close study of tho conditions here, and lis admitted that the Chinese.wero living cheaper than white residents, ' not in their foodstuffs, but in thoir style. They had not much furnituro in their homes,- but that was' becauso most of them had not their families hero. Some said that they earned-too much,; and took away business from tho European. That was an unreasonable fear, for tho accounts they kept proved it. ■He wanted':to bo forgiven' if ho made an unpleasant remark;;but ho would like to refer to tho.'laundry question. It was stated that Cliineso wero going to drive out the English laundry men. How could this bo when the Chinese seldom worked in, groups' of moro than four? They never;solicited business,' their laundry' work was chiefly confined to the ironing of cuffs and collars, they had no steam works, they did not send out for work, thoy had no telephones, and did not canvass or solicit tho work as the European did, and, ; when they came into tho country, they -were called on to pay what was to them tho tremendous sum of £100.

; On tho other "hand, ho was grateful to know that there wero men and.women who voiced tho causo of righteousness and justico in China. They did not listen to. tho voice of tho ignorant, the jealous, and tho unjust. Ho personally l6vcd freedom, and ho could tell them that, so far as China.was concerned, they'would never listen to what was unr'c'asonablo. Tho Chinese quite knew their own; position and their own strength, but thev did not look for the settlement of their difficulties in any but a peaceful and' just way. .Thcyiiad nd:wish to be humiliated, however, and they only asked tho kindness and courtesy which they were extending to others.. If the Western countries wero going to-live up to their glorious traditions, thoy. would give .them that generous consideration. '-.'■'