WHITE AUSTRALIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1924, Page 4

WHITE AUSTRALIA.

NOW ASIATICS GET IN. SYDNEY. I.Ve. 27. j .Mm-h inleiV-i has been amu-ed by I be ivvihuiou- made by the Customs a iiibori tie- during police court proceed • in;:- al Town-viile, North Queen-land. again -t .lapauc-a lugger ma-tor- and prohibited immigrant - cf i lie .-nine nationality regarding the method- adopted for secretly introducing the latter into the ('oiiiinonvrea h ii. Under ‘.he While Ac-iiv.iia law the entrain" of .ill coloured race . except in rare o; ' , under -pool;;! trade arrangements, is sti icily prohibited. Nevertheless, trnveli'T- ill the mirth of Australia have fropueutU commented on the increase of Japanese and Chinese in those parts. and 1 1 I- evidence to support the I Olo.eiii ion of -nine that considerable illicit trade is done by luggers in lauding ihe-e people ill tile ('lll iPlloU WOU !! !l oil the great unguarded cm: 4line ol li e ( s’ - York po'.iin-uln. Recentiv lour Japanese who lmd been < aught were proved lo have arrived oil 1 lie • lapane-e. luggers Atlialie and I ioiio. Ai the Eoliee ('ouri, in giving evidence which resulted in the immigrant and the masieis ol the lugger- being sen loured to -i:; month-' impri-onineiir. and tiie immigrants being ordered *o p. . io ! tb ( nsti.m- authorities staled that -il'clii! ii"u s! i. ;Miet. o! the 11.0'.. in. :n. or ill - Athale com the time j she let! New Caledonia lmd been made. It wit, found that while there .she picked un -even .Lapanose and proceeded to flat Top, elf Mack.iv. North QueenI 1 1:1. Waiini". until Park, the vessel entered (be river and anchored. I laving called at New Onlede.nin since leaving Queensland, the boat was required to be in-peeled bv I In- nuarant ini authorities; lust under eovt r of darkness seven .lapene-e were lauded al I Maekay in a dinghy. Next month]g llie boat was in-pecbal and granted pratique. and remained in .Maekay several day-. Erior to her depart are i wo of the Japanese returned to her and stowed away. The \e.-sei then sailed for Townsville, and when at the eutrance to the harbour one Japanese was hidden amongst worn! u-ed for j

smoking fish, and the other in hags and tackle iu the forepart of the vessel. The quarantine and Customs officials inspected the vessel, which then, entered the harbour and berthed in Ross river. During the night the vessel was visited by a certain Japanese and the two stowaways went ashore with him. it was stated in Court by the prosecuting officer that the Atlialie would he liable to a loss of L'7oo for the action of the Japanese master in breaking the law and smuggling hi fellowcountrymen. The men themselves stated that they were suffering terrible hardships in New Caledonia, where the cost of living was prohibitive owing to the adverse exchange.