PULL CHINESE-PULL GROCER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1239, 22 September 1911, Page 4

PULL CHINESE-PULL GROCER.

» ; A TUG OF WAR. Grocers of: Wellington closo their premises every cvoaing at 6 p.m., but tlicro are other sellers of groceries, among whom five some Chinese shopkeepers, who keep their places of business open Inter. The grocers, wishing to be relieved of the unequal competition, forwarded a petition to tlio City Council, asking that the hours of cli,»ing grocers' shops-lie determined. This como up at tho council meeting Inst night. A counter-petition was sent in, the signatories to which were mainly Chinese.. ■ Inquiry by Hie Town Clerk from Mw; Chinese Consul elicited the information that only thirteen of these were naturalised British subjects. This Mas tho posi-. tion when tho matter came before tho council. ~ Other information was offered to the council by members, this boing to Hie of- . feet that the number of Chinese signatories really naturalised was only four. ; Tito number of names on the petition in favour of early closing was 81, and tho number on tho counter-petition (including the Vi Chinese) was 82. A clear majority was necessary to empower (lie eounoil'to insist on early closing, and they ' refund to take ewniKinep of Ihe lnfor- \ motion, which was in a lei tor from tho Umlnr-Sccrctiiry for Internal Aflnirs in < reply to a prirnte inquirer, coming before l|iem in an irregular manner. 1 Tlie matter was referred back to the i By-J.aws Committee.