SMUGGLING OF ASIATICS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1927, Page 4

SMUGGLING OF ASIATICS

THREE .mysterious luggers

SYDNEY, dune

if any strange things happen along the coast of Northern Australia, aim it is not beyond the realm ot reahU to believe that Asiatics deieat the White Australia law by having themselves smuggled into the eptiitirv )'•> the long, lonely srtetches of coastline in the north. Residents of the country bavo long had their busp.ciomthat such events happen, and though these accounts are discounted by officials in the south, reports persistently come from such northern outposts as Thursday Island of the smuggling

of aliens. A vessel which arrived at Thursday Island recently reported haying seen three strange ketches in Endeavour Strait. The vessels were described as being manned by eight men each— Japanese and Malayans—who statei. that they had come from Aru Island for shark fishing in Hie Gulf of Carpentaria. Suspicions were aroused, and H.M.A.S. Geranium, a survey sloop .left to investigate. The Geranium sighted three strange luggers about twelve miles oil’. Satisfied that they were foreign, the commander gave chase. It was significant that when the sloop was seen putting on speed, the luggers crammed on all available sail before a strong southeaster, and endeavoured to get away. The Geranium gained on the luggers, but owing to the latter reaching shallow water, the Geranium had to abandon the chase. Some of the Geranium’s crew subsequently stated that they saw dinghies on the shore, with numerous figures, who apparently had landed from the luggers earlier m the day. The luggers were ostensibly engaged in shark fishing, hut there appears little doubt, according to a Darwin account, that aliens were being brought to the northern shores ol the continent. Tt is considered remarkable that a quest for sharks should he the object of these era ft.

OFFICIAL RIDICULE. Federal departmental officials ridiculed the suggestion that the presence of the strange craft meant that the smuggling of aliens or opium imr carried out. on a large scale. The Minister for Home ami Territories (Mr Marrl, said that from time to time special inquiries were made through missionaries and residents, and although it was evident that some Chinese and Japanese had gamed illegal entry, there was nothing to justify statements of any wholesale influx. The hostility of natives along the unprotected coast of the Northern Territory would make it difficult tor prohibited immigrants to gain access, or having gained access, to proceed very far into tlie country. The Federal officials admit that fishing boats from Am Island come south and will, it' they ran escape detention, penetrate into Australian coastal waters, and occasionally land for a while. When thev see the smoke of a steamer they sail off. The sight of these boats making off from the const may give rise to suspicion of wholesale smuggling in Asiatics or opium. Tlhat, at least, is the explanation of the Federal departments concerned, but the latest evidence from the north is considered sufficiently stiong to warrant a searching investigation.