CHINESE GRIEVANCES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3726, 25 June 1883, Page 3

CHINESE GRIEVANCES.

AVellington, This day.

A deputation of Chinese residents waited upon tho Hon. Mr Rolleston on Saturday for the purpose of laying before him a statement of the injustice done to many of their countrymen under the Chinese Immigration Act, which provides for the imposition of a tax for £10 on every Chinaman coming to New Zealand without an exception certificate. The deputation was introduced by Mr M'Coll, who acted as spokesman. Mr M'Coll pointed out to Mr Rolleston that many Chinese residents had failed, through ignorance, to take out certificates of exemption during the time appointed by Parliament, which would necessitate the payment of £10 per head if they left the colony and desired to return to it, and explained that the object which tho depu-

tation had in view was to solicit the assistance of the Ministry in getting the law amended so that the Celestials in question, as well as those who should hereafter visit New Zealand, might be enabled to procure passports similar to those issued to Europeans under the famous Chinese treaty. Mr M'Coll said it was very hard that a man who had assisted to develop the resources of the colony should be required to pay tho tax a second time because he went on a visit to a neighboring colony for a few months, ancl adduced two or three instances in which Chinese had been thus treated. He also > mentioned that a petition was in course of siguature by the Chinese residents of the colony praying Parliament to suspend the Chinese Immigration Act until the Chinese population has increased to 7000. Mr Relleston, in reply, said tho question was one that he was not familiar with, and en quirics would have to be made before he could form an opinion as to the merits of the claim made by the deputation. He thought the best thing the deputation could do would bo to add the matter to the petition which they intended to present in Parliament, and "a Parliamentary committee could then enquire into the two questions at the same time. Mr Rolleston pointed out that very considerable difficulty existed in regard to the identification of those individuals who had certificates, Chinese not being so easily identified as Europeans. After some further remarks Mr Rolleston promised to enquire into the matter, and the deputation then withdrew.