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Dunstan Times, Issue 451, 9 December 1870, Page 2

The Oliinese question promises to be a leadin'? one at the coming elections, both for the General Assembly and 'the Provincial Council. It appears rather surprising that, after the long time John Chinaman has been -among us that, his presence should only now be found objectionable. It must be in the recollection of most persons that, the Chinese camo to the Province, or rather, were induced to come, at a time when the goldfield* were almost depopulated by the oxo dm- t"i the V/est Coast, and unless

they had fortunately come, almost every member of the community outside the actual miner, would have been ruined. That we would prefer Kuropean to Chinese mine's, there is no question, but in the absence of the first, the presence of the second is better than no population at all, European miners cannot expect that, became they desert a goldfield, without taking all the gold away it should be shut up, pending their probable return. When oce a field has been opened, other people besides the mi er, become largely interested in its success and having a large capital laid out in goods and buildings upon it, cannot afford to see the place go to the dogs, and it is their business to induce population of some sort or another, to come and dig up the gold that nobody else will dig. The Chinese came and supplied the deficiency, and what is more, they came of their own accord, and without any expense to the Province. The Chinese, instead of doing harm, have mutually assisted to develop the resources of the Province and they have me-ely got gold, which would have remained ungotten. There is nothing connected with the presence of the Chinese that we can see European miners can complain of, Their moral character will bear favorable comparison, and as to their thieving propensities they are charged with many an offence of which they are not guilty. They undertake works which nobody else would ground that was idle for years, because of the difficulties of working it, has been successfully operated upon b / them, they do not wander all* over the country, carrying their swags and begging their way, and refusing to work. They arc not drunkards, they will work for a very little when more cannot be obtained, and are content to live within their incomes. If anything, the Chinese possess virtues that might be copied with advantage. That they will ultimately drive out the European miner-, there is no cause for alarm, such an event is impossible ; the experiences of Australia will justify this assumption, there is plenty of room for all, and more. Chinese immigration may be made an electioneering cry by popularity seekers, who doubtless will advocate a prohibitory poll tax, and a heavy duty upon rice. Both of these courses would be decidedly objectionable, while they would be unjust and impolitic. What better evidences have wo of the want of population than the present high rates of wages, ami the difficulty in procuring labor.