UNDER TWO FLAGS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1329, 5 January 1912, Page 6

UNDER TWO FLAGS.

. WAH. LEE'S BANNER, HOISTED IN LAMBTON QUAY. .' AND WHY FOB. ' If; the weather bo propitious and tho wind not too iboistcrous any passer-by may seo waving gallantly above, the premises of Wah Leo on Lambton Quayopposite the Hank of New Zealand—a bright emerald green flag having in its centre a circle of whito with a serrated or star-like edge—a plain but 'effective device, and one withal that i-s striking terror into' the heart of tho Manehu at the present time. The flag is the peaco flag of the new Chinese Republic,. and it flies over the fruit shop on the Quay, be'causo : its owner is a hot revolutionary who has the cause of the Republic at heart with many hundreds of other Chinese residents in "Xew Zeatahil. •--'■■■

This. green-green bit of hunting: is called the "Pcnco Flag," for the reason that the party has another and more ominous banner—a war Hag, ono of which is also in possession of Wah Leo. .The blood ilaff is of tho same device as that describ- 1 ed—with-this important difference that the groaiid colour of the flag (nil green in peJ.'ce) is divided vertically in halvesone, half green and the other red—bold colours for n bold cause, which are to supplant the yellow dragon of the Manchu dynasty,- if Providence, or tho Chinese giHls, will if so"; ' "■'■" ' '' ' ''■"■' ''.

\Vali Lee is u prosperous trader, and a man of Jlis. enterprises are .not restricted .to Wellington, anil whenever he takes : his w'alks abroad ho spares no olfort to .spraid'tlic"prnpa'Rnhilii of tho new Republic, Not only this,, but he lectures .to the Chinese community about the political, situation in Celestia, 'and trarisla.te.riu.flowing Cantonese the cabled news of tho iwnr now in progress. Wah .■say3--that,--when- tho Manchn -is fired , ; fr6ni *tho throue, and tho Republic is established—bplievirig,:.that a Kepublic is the only solution'*-of China's national problem—there will ,be very few Chinese left in Now Zealand.' :;

In explanation,: t ho. says that many of the Chiuose who havo'settled in New Zealand, Australia, and America, have been forced to seek ,-houies over tho tea for political reasons, and owing to tho extortionate .denm'mfa ef ' fclio Manchu Government and its 'hirelings. But with the establishment of the Republic, .a. .change will tbmo over - the scene in'.tho home country. ,The'ancient conservatism, which has blocked progress and: proy'ented tho ■ development of .the Empire's great-resources, will f.e swept n way, in favour of a': policy which u ill inake*-.Chiria* one of tho foremost nations on earth..;'. '*■■ ■-.'■ "■■'. ."-..- '■ • • The policy of tho Republic rill favour the opening up of the great back country and the "working of., vast areas of land known to be' , rich in copper, gold, .coal, and other minerals., There will be no inducement for Chinese tpMeay'p' their own country; indeed, the inducement will be for "foreign", Chinese to return to the land of their fathers, for, at heart, • the Chinaman is fervently ■ patriotic and home-loving. Hundreds.of pounds have already been cubscribed in Wellington for tho Republican catise, and there are those, it is Stated, who are prepared to givo'their all. to-help to remove from'the throne the Manchu Dynasty. ■•'.'■