THE CHINESE IMMIGRATION CIRCULAR.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1293, 9 April 1872, Page 2

THE CHINESE IMMIGRATION CIRCULAR.

Mr Ormond's circular to the Superintendents of the Provinces regarding the importation af Chinese to construct the railways, forms the subject of a leading article* in the Wellington Independent,, which describes the circular as " veryfoolish," " unnecessary," and " likely to give rise to a great deal of needless excitement among the working classes." The Independent denies tbat the Government have thought of Chinese immigration, and also speaks of the manner in which the Government colonising scheme is being carried out in the following terms :—"The originalidea of the Public Works and Immigration policy has been permitted to drop almost out of sight. The obvious and businesslike plan of accom.moJating the construction of public works to the extent of immigration,, or vice versa accommodating immigration to the extent of public works, cantnot be said to be a prominent featureof the administration of the scheme as. it is now being carried on. And evidently the Government have been, forced into taking in hand public works much in advance of their expectations of immigration, or else Mr Ormond would not have thought necessary to raise the question of Chinese labor," The Lyttelton Times—also a Government organ—thus refers to the abovementioned circular:—"lt is no secret that Mr Brogden brought the matter under the notice of the Government some two or three months ago, and also that they were unanimous in at once refusing to entertain the idea for a moment. It would appear, however, that Mr Brogden had again pressed the matter on the consideration of the Minister of Public Works, and that the latter sent the circular which, through the instrumentality of the Superintendent of Nelson, has found its way into the public journals. Similar circulars, were of course sent to all the other Superintendents, and we cannot but think that Mr Ormond, to say the very least, was indiscreet." After quoting the above, the Otago Daily Times expresses the hope that Mr Ormond will like this public reproof from his fellowMinister for Public Works, Mr Reeves, who, it may be necessary to state, occupies the editorial chair of the Lyttelton Times.