CHINESE IMMIGRANTS’ BILL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 956, 29 June 1881, Page 2

CHINESE IMMIGRANTS’ BILL.

It is provided that the Act is only to come into operation when the Governor in Council is satisfied that the Chinese in the Colony exceed 5000. Ships arriving in the Colony may not carry more than one Chinaman to every ten tons of their tonnage, the owner, charterer, or master being liable to a penalty not exceeding £lO for every passenger so carried in excess. The master on arrival is to give a list of the Chinese passengers on board, and before landing any Chinese must pay to the Collector of Customs ten pounds for every such Chinese. This shall not apply to any Chinese member of the crew, unless he lands with the intention of remaining in the Colony. If the master neglect to pay the poll tax he is liable to a penalty not exceeding £2O for each Chinese permitted to land without being paid for, and in addition to any such penalty the vessel shall be forfeited, and may be seized, condemned, and disposed of in like manner as ships forfeited for a breach of law relating to the Customs of the Colony. On ‘payment of the poll tax the Customs officer shall give each Chinese a certificate, which shall always be admitted as evidence of the same having been paid. If at any time within three years from the date of the landing of any Chinese, in respect of whom such sums shall have been paid, such Chinese shall depart from the Colony to parts beyond the seas, and shall, before his departure, prove to the satisfaction of the Colonial Treasurer : —1: That during his residence in the Colony he has not been confined in any gaol or lock-up after conviction of any offence. 2 : That he has paid all fines and penalties imposed upon him under the provisions of any Act in force in the Colony. 3 : That he has paid all expenses incurred in respect of his confinement or medical treatment any

public hospital, charitable institution, lunatic asylum, or other place for the care, treatment, or cure of the sick poor or insane. 4: And that no expense or charge has fallen upon the revenue for his support, then upon the production of his certificate the amount so paid in respect of such Chinese shall be repaid to him on board of the vessel by which he shall so depart. But if he shall fail to make such proof within the period aforesaid the amount shall be paid into the public account, and form part of the consolidated fund. If any Chinese shall enter or attempt to enter the Colony without the poll tax of £lO being paid he shall beside such sum, be liable to a penalty not exceeding £lO. At any hearing the Justices may decide upon their own view and judgment whether any person charged before them is a Chinese or not within the meaning of the Act. All Chinese within the Colony at the time the Act comes into operation may, within two months thereafter, obtain a certificate of exemption from payments under the Act. A certificate of exemption may also be granted in cases of temporary absence from the Colony. [The above Bill went through Committee in half an hour, and was reported to the House with slight amendments. An attempt was made to increase the penalty clause from £lO to £SO, but the lesser sum passed. —Ed. P.B.S.]