THE CHINESE QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2150, 5 August 1907, Page 1

THE CHINESE QUESTION.

To tho Editor. Sir,—Unavoidable oircumlstances alone prevented me from replying to Di. Collins’ letter which appeared in your issue of a couple of days ago, and as yon have not yet closed the question in your columns, even at the eleventh hour, I would again beg a little space. Sir, my worthy opponent. seems to be softening down a good deli, inasmuch as lie admits that the only solution that will over settle the Chinese question is “prohibitive legislation.” Therefore, I boldly take the credit for his conversion to myself. But, sir, I would ask my opponent —"Why does he so helplessly fall back on that mountainous clause in cthe Act of Constitution? Does he not see Acts of Parliament being repealed almost every day of his life? It is only necessary that the Governments of these colonics should unite in a determined demand for an amendment of the aforesaid Act, when I am as sure as the sun will rise to-morrow that their demands will be acceded to. Sir, had my opponent lived in the days of the American Independence, I .fancy I can almost hear him ' appearling to the American t'o calmly accept the imposition of heavy duty on tea, and simply bow to the inevitable or incite tlio displeasure of the grand old Imperial Government. At the preesnt moment, sir, the Chinese problem is in the air, and now is tho time to settle it. —I am, etc., P. DALLEY. —2Uy opponent has wandered into tho realms of “Darwinism,” and I desire to allow him to remain there in undisturbed solitude. —P.D.