THE COLOUR PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2878, 16 September 1916, Page 7

THE COLOUR PROBLEM

Sir,—l read in your paper of September 12 a letter signed by one who calls himself "An English-bora New Zealander," and would _ like to make a. few comments on his. letter. I think the writer, in classifying Chinese, Syrians, and black negroes all in the one class, is most unfair, and, to say the least of it, most ungrateful. I am an Ethiopian, or, as is vulgarly called " a negro," but am nevertheless a British-born subject, having' been born in Barbadoes, West Indies, ono of the oldest of the British colonies or Crown possessions. I am, therefore, a -British- subject, and I am entitled to all tho privileges which thoso words convey, '-f Surely, sir, I, a§ a British subject, am'not to be put in the'same class as Chinese or other foreign subjects. Ido not propose to follow your correspondent through the whole of his letteij hut I would point out to him that with regard to wages ho is again unfair and incorrect. lam worlcing as a cook in a place in this City, and I receive the award wages, 110 more and no less. ' I am in fair competition with other British subjects, and do not adopt tho methods suggested bv your correspondent as being adopted by tho Chinese and Syrians. If the person i for whom I- am employed desires to employ another cook, then that other cook will have to be paid tho same wages'as I am. What is more, and this, sin can he verified, ray "countrymen in' West Indies aro fighting to uphold the prcstigo of the British Empiro at the present moment, and in tho faco of this statement the correspondent has the impertinonco to stato that my countrymen should not be allowed to land in New Zealand. I would again point out that when Englishmen go to my country they aro treated with every respcct, and they got tho samo, privileges that we have ourselves m our own country. What, sir, is "sauco for the gooso should bo sauco for the gander," and I think you will agree with me that in view of our ' fighting for the Empire and the fact that fair treatment is meted out to Britishers in the West Indies, we are entitled to tho same treatment in any other part of tho British Empire. I hope that you will publish this letter, as I take 'strong exception to what your correspondent has stated, as I consider myself. to he every bis u3 much a British subject as your correspondent. —I am, etc., FITZGERALD CLARK. September 12.

. Sir, —As a regular subscriber to your paper, I. should esteem it a great favour if you will allow me, through your columns, to thank "An English-born New Zealander" for the able .manner, and stand he has taken up regarding the menace of the 'coloured races in New Zealand—our home. I should like to add that if the Trades and Labour Council and the various .working men's unions were to tako a' determined'stand, and not deal in any shop or business controlled by Chine-so, 1 Hindoos, or coloured people generally, it -would he one good step in the right direction. I would like to writo more, but trust somo abler pen than mine will take the matter further.—l am, 6tC '' WHITE MAN'S HOME.