CHINESE AND POLL-TAX.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9145, 14 May 1908, Page 7

CHINESE AND POLL-TAX.

Press Association

Palmerston N., May 13. A Chinaman was brought before the S.M. this morning to show cause why he should not pay the poll tax. When the case was called on it was discovered that information of such offence muar, be -laid within six months of the date of the committal of the offence and as accused was a long standing offender it was not possible to proceed. It was suggested that it would be a comparatively easy matter for a new chum from the Flowery Land to get safe into hiding among his compatriots for so short a period as six months and unless the law was amended there was every probability that the wily heathen would have another opportunity to how their propensity for “ways that are dark and tricks that are vain.” The police had yet another grievance against accused in that he was a deserter from the cable repairing steamer Iris. The alleged offence occurred in 1904. Accused admitted it and was remanded to Auckland to join the steamer.