AGAINST ASIATICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2120, 1 July 1907, Page 1

AGAINST ASIATICS.

MR. JOHN* ©AMERON’S CAMPAIGN. A ,fairly- largo number of men assembled in the Druid’s Hall. Wellington. on June 19th to hear the opinions of Mr. John Cameron, organiser of tlie Asiatic Immigration Restriction liOagne. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, .M.H.R.. presided. The chairman said that M. Cameron had formed very strong branches y-.f the league in Carterton and Masterton, and had invitations to, organise branches in other places. ; If there was any-district that heeded a branch it was Wellington. If any one desired to get'fruit from a white trader here it would occupy half a day to find a sho]>. The experience of other parts of tlie colony'showed there could be no neceessity tor the Chinaman. In Christchurch,* for instance, it was as difficult to find a Chinese fruit shop as it- was hard to discover a European’s 'here, and living was cheaper there -than here. It was nob ■ought to ill-treat, the Chinese, who were now here,-but it was desired to check the invasion. Chinese women were coining in, and Chinese men were arriving faster than they were going OUt. ■ * :

Mr. Gameron stated; -that, it was quite time that something was clone to keep the Chinese out. From what he had seen of Haining -street it. was a blot oh 'Wellington, and also a Jjlot on the people’s boasted civilisation. The islands of the near .Pacific were teeming with Chinese, and it was time that a New Zealander did something to protect their shores. Ho felt sure that the Government would bring down a measure in accordance with the league’s desire, provided the movement was popularly supported. It was intended to approach the Government by a strong deputation and ask for either an amendment of an old Bill or a fresh one, providing for a. suitable increase in the poll-tax. The league was going against the Asiatics first. Then' it was proposed to set lip vigilance committees to watdh slums, with a view to clearing .them out. Mr. AY. A. Lloyd said that he had seen the evils of Chinese population in Australasia, and it was impossible to .have the yellow: and white races living together without lowering the moral standard of both. He' was not in favour of the Asiatic at all, but in .view of the huge number of Great Britian’s Asiatic subjects it was not likely that King Edward’s representatives here would sign ii measure, imposing a prohibitive tax on all kinds of Asiatics. AA'lien Australia had failed in this matter itiwas not likely that New Zealand would siicceed. He wanted to see something mine practical than the imposition of a prohibitive poll-tax.* 0,-. McDonald also uttered sentiments in sympathy with the movement; for safeguarding the white race from'contamination by the yellow. It was agreed that a central branch of the league should be formed in Wellington. _

. Mr., Buffi Naylqr..' Statfed'.thsit’ Day, dlwaya iff a? match to what ho did .in'; a handicap. had beaten Daydn a ■ match, htmdipap it jyoiild ljave Jbeon the other was great pltt-.Renopal” at matches,v«fid lie (tliospoafcer).;:had warned Day-nob.to get' on (ho outside, but he.did;so, and,was kent-'thero for some tiiho. ; They? did li 300yds sjayint homo;;,find there was not a yarc] .between them’ at ! the .tape. No- insinuated anything against Day; Lut McLachlaiVtfbisd run a real good race, and had -piife up £IOO of his ownimoney; so, had Day in addition to side hoist Both men wore absolutely exhausted: after the race. Thorb was iio motive;(fdr’• “crooked’ 7 - running; for McLachlan had everyth i h g;st o"ga i n-S an cl nothing to lose by winniiVg. McLachlan had. as it was lost £2OO, and it; would have been ah- t solutely impossible,'for hini-to have ' manipulated the betting. '■ '

Mr. Day then withdrew, and Mr. McLachlan entered to explain himself. Ho -said that in running the “quarter” it was most unwise to make the paoo. If"a man ran by himself h 6 could not do the distance in 49 sec, but if he lmd a man to lead him . he could do it in 48sec. Ho had adopted 1 hose tactics', and, having man-

oeuvrcd, Day on toithe outside, prevented liim from passing. ■, lii the", straight ho let Day forgo ahead, and ran behind . him, sheltering himself from tint head'wind. Ho (McLaehlan) had evc-ry inducement to win. Mr. Bourne and Mr. : Barnes: had' each £75 on him, and Mr. Boui'no was laying £6O to £4.0 that he would run tho rubber. Had there been: anv mllns.

iit ~ XlciU Ultlu IJUtMI' . COlillS*’ jlOUiJJay’s backers would liavo acceptod tlib" dQaSyTmfc tli'c'v did not;... Also bad ho beaten Day ho would have probably made a good deal oi money by running Postle in West Australia. All those arguments would tell, leaving his personal reputation out of tlxo question altogether.

All these statements wero borne out by Mr. Bourne. One. of the executive: Wliat is the best time.you’ve dono the quarter in? When I was younger and on a splendid track in Napier, I did do it in 48 2-5 sec. Now, if in good trim, 1 might do it in oOsec.

Mr. McLaclilan was thanked for his attendance and withdrew.

Tlie subject was carefully discussed, the general opinion being that the explanation rendered had been remarkably straightforward. Mr. Ledgerwood moved: “That the Union, having heard all evidence, was satisfied that everything had been fair and square.” Mr J. Fogarty seconded the motion. Mr. Brady, timekeeper, said he had considered that something was' wrong at the time, but what he had just heard had made him cjliite satisfied on tho point. Mr. C./McKay, the official representative at the match, said he was not satisfied. The men had jumped off together and stopped, then sprinted, and stopped again. Tho President: But wliat about the motive? Both gentlemen have explained this. .

The. executive was of the presidtn’s opinion ,and the motion was carried unanimously.