The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1879.

Kumara Times, Issue 888, 5 August 1879, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1879.

During the late meetings held relative to the formation of a new County and the deviation of the railway line between Hokitika and Grey mouth, another subject was broached by several of the speakers viz,, the restriction of Chinese immigration. A bill to meet this objectionable evil has been introduced into the House of Representatives by the Hon, Mr Gisborne, entituled “An Act to regulate and restrict the immigration of Chinese,” which we believe will meet the views of the most bitter opponent to the in-

troduction of this race of men into the colony -It provides that “If a vessel shall arrive in any port in New Zealand, having on board a greater number of Chinese passengers than in the proportion of one to every ten tons of the tonnage of such vessel, the owner, charterer, or master of such vessel shall be liable, on conviction, to a penalty not exceeding £lO for each Chinese passenger so carried in excess. The master, on arrival, is to give a list of the Chinese passengers on board, and in default he shall be liable to a penalty nob exceeding £2OO, For each Chinese arriving, £lO is to be paid to the Customs officer ,■ this is not, however, to apply to any Chinese who is one of the crew of the vessel, unless lie lands with the intention of remaining in the Colony. The -penalty for not paying for the Chinese on arrival is a sum not exceeding £2O tor each Chinese so landed, and in addition the vessel shall be forfeited. If any Chinese shall enter or attempt to enter the Colony without paying, or having had paid, the fee, he shall, beside such sum, be liable to a penalty of £lO. Every Chinese in the Colony is, before the Ist January next, to obtain from the Resident Magistrate’s Court nearest to his place ot abode a certificate of-exemption from payments under the Act.” As a similar measure has been passed in other colonies with beneficial effect their is little reason to doubt but that the bill of the honourable member for Totara will receive the consideration and sup port of the House.