CHINESE OH THE RAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1646, 12 January 1906, Page 3

CHINESE OH THE RAND.

NEW METHODS FOR COOLIE

CONTROL.

Tho orimoe roooutly committod by tho Rand ccoliis wero in a largo measure, a high authority basinformod the Johannesburg correspondent of tho London Daily Mail, duo to tho gambliug d.bts inourrod towards a number of professional gamblors who shipped themselves to the Transvaal with tho viow of exploiting their innocent fellow oountrymou, Tho reason why this has not had an effeot soonor is that tho professional gamblers bavo given their dupes credit, and, finding thoro was no hopo of recovering tho money won, they rosorted to terrorism, with the result that the lives of tho debtors wore rendered impossible, and they found it desirable lo desert. Added to this is the fact that the pre-

sent is the dead season of tho year, and tho wandering ocolies found it impossible to sioal vegetables or to live on tho country. Another difficulty that has led to grievances and subsequent disturbances is the fnot that numbers of men from Northern

China have been shipped to the Rand, whereas tho officials were only acquainted with the dialeot and character of the Cantanrse. White detectives, who did not under-

stand tho Chinese language, are now to be replaced by ChinamoD, who will work as ordinary laborers, and so will discover at its inception any organised attempt at orimo or dosertion. Summary jurisdiction will shortly be established, thus avoiding the ordinary tedious logal procedure. For the ventilation of grievances the now protector, Mr Jameson, has instituted a system of post offices, whonco petitions oan be forwarded to him.

Instead of seeking to establish oontrol over the individual coolies, each headman will now be responsible for the group of coolies of whioh he is chief. Should two consecutive misdemeanours bo committed, tho whole batch will in molded. The new law alao provides for the repatriatiu - of all bad oharactors.

There will blwbj s be a certain amount of crime amoDg such a large body of men,” concluded tho official “ That is inevitable. But the community considers it regrettable that tho question Bhouid have boen made one of party politios.”