LAUGHING AT LEGISLATION

NZ Truth, Issue 1141, 13 October 1927, Page 5

LAUGHING AT LEGISLATION

Chinese Flout Customs Regulations And Escape Penalty - (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland RepresentatftraJ THE regular appearance at the Auckland Magistrate's Court of Chinese "visitors" who have overstayed their six months' permits m New Zealand is something m the nature of a farce.

AT intervals during the last few ri months a number of young Chinese have been charged with .flouting he Customs regulations. On an average, about two Asiatics lave been brought before the bench jach week, some of them as much as eighteen months overdue m the Donlnion. The appearance of the Chinese m 2ourt is invariably marked by a dialogue of this description: Customs Collector (half-heartedly): 'I am instructed, your worship, to ask that a penalty b© imposed, as my department is experiencing a deal of trouble from this class of overseas visitor." Magistrate: "How long has he overstayed his leave?" Customs Collector: "Seventeen .months, your worship. " Counsel: "This man has his passage booked for China (or Australia or Suva) and I would ask your worship to remand him for four days until the boat sails." Magistrate: "What do you say to that?" Customs Collector: "Very well, your worship." Counsel: "Will your worship fix bail it £25?" And • so Chinese who have evaded ;he law and, perhaps, enjoyed the freeiom of our country for nearly two fears on a paltry deposit of £ 10, skip lappily away —unpunished, despite the "act that the Immigration Act provides "or such offences with a fine of £100 >r twelve months' imprisonment. A week or two ago, Constable Doe! ;ave strong evidence to show that the irrest of some of these Chinese 'tourists" entails a great amount of :rouble. Wang Yuk was the unwelcome visitor who had been "absent without leave" for 13 months. Wang had deliberately evaded arrest for some time; moving from one place to another, he kept the police busy hunting for him m the labyrinths af his fellow countrymen's, haunts throughout the district. niiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiriiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiHiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiMiiitiiifMiiiiiiiimr

worship, that the court could arrange with my department to refund the amount of his deposit— •£ 10. He has assisted my department m every way by informing us that he wished to leave the Dominion." Magistrate: If he does not object to the slight inconvenience In oor overseas passenger service, every speed will be exercised m chartering a Sydney -bound vessel for hia immediate conveyance to any part of the globa." Before leaving the court, Ah Wat Rot, after shaking hands and bidding farewell to his worship, presented counsel with an out-sizs m cabbages, while a dainty bouquet of fresh leeks was pressed into the hands of the Customs Collector. As the young Asiatic passed through the door, the court rose and — led by the magistrate — a few well-chosen v«rses from "The Chinese Honeymoon" were sung m chorus.