THE CHOW AND THE GOVERNMENT.

NZ Truth, Issue 81, 5 January 1907, Page 5

THE CHOW AND THE GOVERNMENT.

Railway Department Patronises Wung Hi.

The inscrutable, malodorous Pigtail with the pigstye smell seems to be capable of squeezing into places m a manner that Europeans can't achieve. A great many good things m the way of business m this colony are gradually coming his way, and he grasps them with both hands and a smile. And hie encroachment on one's domainis done so unobtrusively that it isn't noticed until he has a hold as strong as a monkey on a bar. It has been pointed out m this paper that a large quantity of vegetables is dumped onto the Christchurch railway station every day by a yelloV Johnnie named Jim Too Sing, or a Mongol whose well-laden cart bears that appellation. The name of the man who delivers may be Jim Jam, or Jim Too Laugh for all writer knows. At all events he's got a smile that would boil a kettle. Now, white people who detest the yellow curse don't like to see this cargo of vegetables being shot down there daily ; they are consigned to no one but are intended for the railway refreshment cars going to Dunedin. And Jim Too Sting, orJirti Tob Stink, or whatever' it is, makes a fine, fat annuai inoonie out of, the transaction. James*, can't be blamed,, of course, but the Government should see that a white man got a chance. This encouragement of

THE BALEFUL HEATHEN by the State doesn't meet with the approval of those of the Christchurchians who are cognisant of the facts, and many of them eschew the Mongol's vegetables when the" use the dining car on the trip south. That is a solid fact. If everybody followed their example there would be a fearful slump m the demand for the unspeakable Chinkie's cabbagee, a nd callotee and wegetable mallow, and other sundries ' that he keeps under his bed at night and sells as fresh on the morrow after putting them under the water tap. Thank goodness the crowd from the East haven't taken up the meat trade yet, but there's no know l ing: what they may do. With the encouragement of the Government— the support of the Government— we may yet see fashionably dressed Pigtails occupying big billets m the public service, and standing for seats m Parliament ; and Premier Sir Joe Ward ma^ be heard alluding to

HIS HONORABLE FRIEND MR

WONG BUN; or his honorable friend Mr, Ah Scone, for whom the honorable house has such a high regard. This may appear ridiculous/ of course, but the plain fact of the matter is that we want no. more Chinamen m this colony. and that the poll tax must either be raised to £500 or £1000, or an Act be passed excluding the yellow mob, altogether. The question is : . Will the Government have the backbone to tackle the question on these lines so soon as they have got weighty matters which lie like plum duff on their chests o' nights, off their minds ? It is, of course, well known that there are a great many Chinese slaves m this country— who are imported by wealthy syndicates who put up the very inade-e quate amount of the poll-tax and make their importations (they import them like boxes of tea)

WORK LIKE THE DEVIL for a mere pittance until the £100 is paid off, and for long afterwards. There are any number of men who work from daylight until after dark under such conditions. These persons would never be able to raise the hundred quid admission money were it not for these syndicates ; so if the amount were made five times as much, or preferably ten, they wouldn't be so' eager to continue the game ; m fact it would stoush it altogether, and Maoriland would be greatly benefited. The widely printed statement that there is am M iawatoen'ing m China" and that some nation or other had better look out, needn't frighten our Government into a state of inactivity m regard to that poll-tax, or make them afraid that the Chows would drop along and bombard the colony with crackers and other fancy goods. The idea is too rich. If China does know that there is such a place as New Zealand it probafcly looks upon it as a small rock m mid-ocean, occupied by a few Maoris and a ite roosting place for seagulls.