ANGRY CHINESE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1799, 4 July 1906, Page 3

ANGRY CHINESE.

BOYCOTT THE EXHIBITION.

I (Per Press Association.) I Westport, last night. I A Hong Kong paper, the South China Morning Post, of May 30th, reoeivod by the Press Association agent here, says “ Tbo New Zealand Exhibition is to have no oftioial support from China. A representative visited Pekin, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, and met the leading merchants and oifioials, and urged the benefit J that would acorue from participation in suoh an International aggregation of the world’s manufactures with all the eloquence at his command, but without avail. His persuasive power failed to overcome what the Chinese themselves termed the

»insalt ” of tho poll tax and tho unfriendly attitude of Now Zealand in regard to the introduction of Chinese labor on tho Band Tho obstacles to be overcome by Mr Gow were too many for him, ami ho loft for tho oolony yesterday, his mission to this quarter being praotioally fruitless. He was not oast down, however. On tho contrary, in a word ho had with a representative of the Post he confessed that he anticipated as much. He said he had met many well-educated, thinking Chinese in the oourse of bis mission, whose keen desire for knowledge of. Western institutions was only equalled by the fanatioal policy of a certain olass of politicians to exolude them. Such men as he bad had the pleasure of moating and conversing with coaid not, if they ever went to New Zealand, fail to open the eyes of those of bis people wboss sole belief appeared to be th&t every Cbinoso is a coolie. Mr Gow would do what ha could on his return to enlighten his psople with regard to Chinese scholars, merohauts, and tourists. They were ju9l such pcple as he wanted to visit New Zealand. As far as he had learned the belter olass of Chinese themselves were not all averse to the exolnsion of ooolies, bat contended that it was an unjust law which impesed JUOO poll tax ou all equally. The tax should not be imposed on a mero visitor from China, a Chinese gentleman travelling far pleasure, a marohant travelling for business, or a seeker after information. These classes should be treated ou equal terms with other rac s of the world, and Mr Gow quito agreed with this view, and if firm business relations were ever to be promoted between New Zealand and China the present restrictions would have to be ameDded accordingly. The Chinese were □ow in a position of making their infiaenoe fel*, as evidenced by the recent Amerioan boyoott. This latest boycott of the New Zaaland Exhibition ought to bring the powers that be ia that country to a sense of fairness, and to a realisation that in dealings with the better olass of Chinese they are not treating with savages.”