THE CHINESE IMMIGRANTS BILL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2247, 15 June 1881, Page 3

THE CHINESE IMMIGRANTS BILL.

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WELLINGTON, June 14.

Copies of the Chinese Immigrants Bill, bearing the name of Major Atkinson, were distributed to-day. It is provided that the Act is only to come into operation Vhen the Governor in Council is satisfied that the Chinese in the oolony exceed 5000. Ships arriving in the colony may not oarry more than one Chinaman to every ten tons of their tonnage, the owner, charterer, or master being liable to a penalty not exceeding £lO for eaoh passenger so carried in exoess. The master on arrival is to give a list of the Chinese passengers on board, and before landing any Chinese must pay to the oollector of Customs ten pounds for every such Chinese. This shall not apply to any Chinese member of the crew, unless he lands with tbe intention of remaining in the oolony. If the master neglect to pay the poll tax he is liable to a penalty not exceeding £2O for each Chinese permitted to land without being paid for, and, in addition to any such penalty, the vessel shall be forfeited, and may be seized, condemned, and disposed of in like manner as ships forfeited for a breach of law relating to the Customs of the oolony. On payment of tha poll tax the Customs offioer shall give each Chinese a certificate, whioh shall always be admitted as evidenoe of the same having been paid. If at any times within three years from the date of the landing of any Chinese, in respect of whom such sums shall have been paid, such Chinese shall depart from the colony to parts beyond the seas, and shall, before bis departure, prove to the satisfaction of tbe Colonial Treasurer:—(l) That during his residenoe in tbe colony he has not been confined in any gaol or look-up after conviction of any offence; (2) that he has paid all fines and penalties imposed upon him under the provisions of any Act in force in the oolony; (3) tiat he has paid all expenses incurred is respect of bis confinement or medical troatnent in any public hospital, charitable institution, lunatic asylum, or other place for the care, treatment, or enre of the sicl poor or insant; (4) and that no expense or charge has fallen upon the revenue for Lis support, then upon the production of his certificate the amount so paid in respect of such Chinese shall be repaid to him on bourd of the vessel by which he shall so depart. But if he shall fail to make suoh prtof within the period aforesaid the amount shall be paid into the public acoount, and form part of the consolidated fund. If any Chinese shall enter or attempt to eater the solony without the poll tax of £lO being paic he shall, beside suoh sum, be liable to a penalty not exceeding £lO. At any hearing the Justices may decide upon their own view anl judgment whether any person charged before them is a Chinese or not within the msaning of the Act. All Chinese within the olony at the time the Act oomes into operatioa may, within two months thereafter, obtain a certificate of exemption from payments under the Act. A oertifloate of exemption nay also be granted in cases of temporary alsence from tbe oolony.