The Chinese Shopkeeper.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 93, 13 October 1894, Page 4

The Chinese Shopkeeper.

Says the Christchurch Star : — 1 From northern papers it is apparent f < that several Chinese storekeepers have been seeking the. protection ot the Bankruptcy Court. No one can object, if a Chinaman should be unfortunate, that he should take advantage of the laws of the country in which he is sojourning ; but there are other Doints in connection with these failures that should be brought out. One of the bankrupts, Yee Kee by name, excuses himself lor not meeting the demands ot his creditors on the plea that he has a father and mother, a wife, and her father and mother in China to support. This it will be admitted, is a little rough on New Zealand creditors, even though it may be 9 very nice thing tor the relatives of Yee Kee to have such a thoughtful member of the family outside the Celestial Kmpire. But there is still another point. This man, Yee Kee, immediately upon settinpr up in business, began the usual game of cutting down the prices until the European shopkeepers could make no profit or sell on equal terms with the almond-eyed gentleman. After pursuing this cutting policy for several years, and thus assisting to ruin more than one European shopkeeper — for people will buy from the Chows, though it may mean ruin to the legitimate trader and Bankruptcy Court bye-and bye to the Chinaman-— the almond-eyed gentleman asked tor relief from his creditors. But are not the merchants in a large measure responsible for the existence of such a state of things ? Why do they encourage these unhealthy traders by supplying them wit'i goods to the detriment of the European trader, who carries on hi* business on legitimate lines, has his family in the colony, pays rent for decsDt premised, and employs assistants at fair wages 1 Your Chinese trader dues none of these things, and if he is to be assisted by being put through the Bankruptcy Court after running, cutting ana sweating, it must be acknowledged that there is not a very large percentage of justice to other traders in the law as it stands. The merchants might do worse than seriously consider the point of whether it would not be to their advantage to discourage the Chinese retailer, or at anyrate to demand such guarantee as would ensure the payment of all accounts for goods supplied.