JOHN CHINAMAN.

Patea Mail, 7 June 1881, Page 2

JOHN CHINAMAN.

What’s to be done with John? He has been coming here in small scouting parties ; now he is coming in hundreds ; and soon he will flock to New Zealand in thousands. John is a social nuisance and a political trouble. He is innocent of any intention to do harm, beyond working for low wages, living on offal, and saving mnchee money to carry away. But he causes harm all the same. He lowers wages beyond the level at which a British laborer can keep his home in moderate comfort. The Chinese congregate at particular centres, and each centre is thereby converted into an arena of strife or angry jealousy, because the yellow worker under-bids the white, and produces what is clearly unfair competition. The Chinese are good workers; they are thrifty, inoffensive, and ingenious ; but they are none the less a pest to a white community. Socially, they are a nasty lot. But apart from bad morals and social filth, the political objections to Chinese immigrants are overpowering. The facts have passed beyond the stage of argument; and it is a wise firmness to resolve, before the evil becomes great, that John and his tribe shall be put down. He must-be taxed till he clears out. He should be taxed also to prevent his coming in. The Government promise to introduce the Bill which was approved by the International Conference, for restricting Chinese immigration. That Bill permits only one Chinaman for every ten tons of cargo to be landed at any port. The object is to reduce wholesale immigration to a limit that will not be felt injuriously by any class. This action is being taken late, yet not too late. But what is to be done with the Chinese now here and on the voyage ? How muchee will you taxee the yellow heathen digger ?