ORIENTAL ODOUR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10272, 6 May 1919, Page 6

ORIENTAL ODOUR

A RETURNED SOLDIER’S OBJECTION. It would appear from the number of cases that have come before tho courts recently that some soldiers, who have only been back in New Zealand for a few days and have not settled down to civilian life, take a dislike to Chinese. Yesterday, John Gould, a returned soldier, was charged before Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, with damaging a pane of glass valued at 6s, the property of iieo Chong. The charge was aumittted. Emerson said that a constable on duty on Lambton quay heard a noise, and saw the accused coming along the street with a bag of vegetables. When asked what tho matter was, Gould, who was very

excited, replied, “Nothing/’ but upon i inquiries being made it was found that I ho had put his fist through the panel of a glass door. The accused was a man who was highly spoken of by those • who knew him. The reason he afterwards gave for his action was tnal Chinese shops were breeding-places Id the influenza germ, and that gambling took place there. Gould said ho went into the shop

: for the purpose of purchasing grapes ! for a sick relative, but ho alleged that ! the stench on the premises was so pro- „ nounced that he did not buy the fruit. Something prompted him not to strike | the Chinese, so he smashed a window as a protest. He had only been back from the front five days. 1 The magistrate: Probably the reason for your action was that you have not settled down yet. 1 am pleased tot know that something prompted you not to hit the Chinese. It is not sportsmanlike to strike a Chinese, as they ’ never hit back. The accused: Some of them do, ?ir. Do yon desire to see this country overrun with Chinese ? The magistrate I cannot argue with you on too subject. The law of the land alalows Chinese to enter New Zealand, and while that is the case is is not for you or anyone else to interfere with them. The whole question is in the hands of the public, and if . . they do not. desire the presence of the Chines.o they should not support them. The accused was convicted and ordered to pay the amount of damage done.