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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2523, 22 April 1881, Page 2

About twelve months ago, wc called attention to the desirability of steps being taken, in time, to prevent the influx of Chinese to this colony. The chief reason we then urged, was the likelihood of the Mongolian stream which was flowing into California, being diverted into other channels and the Chinese finding their way in huge shiploads to the Colonies, We were then met by a series of arguments, the principal one, urged by the representatives of the Government, being, that the number of Chinese in New Zealand was very immaterial, and that the apprehensions indulged in were premature. Since then the Chinese question has been seriously 7 discussed at an Intercolonial Conference, and steps have been taken by some of the colonies most concerned to avoid the spoliation which a Chinese invasion implies. In spite of repressive measures, however, there is every prospect of the evil that has been apprehended being speedily 7 realised in a quite unexpected manner. The American Congress has passed a Bill restricting the immigration of Chinese and placing obstacles in the way of those who may migrate into the United States. The result is that the stream is being diverted into other channels. Honolulu has been invaded, with the most deplorable consequences to the inhabitants, for the Chinese have introduced small pox, leprosy, and a variety of efflictions from which the island was previously exempted, and such of the islanders as outlive these disorders are being converted into slaves and concubines. The Chinese have lately being strengthening their position in the colonies, for we find that the Victorian Legislature has had to consider the expediency of preventing the Chinese vote being used us a weapon at elections. A glance at the New Zealand gazette will show that the representatives of the race are securing letters of naturalisation here. These arc all evidences of an ulterior design on the part of these undesirable aliens. An arm of the Chinese stream has already reached New South Wales. Within the past fortnight several vessels with Chinese immigrants have reached Sydney, the latest being the steamer Crusader from Hong Kong with 500 passengers. These floating communities will speedily make an impression on the colonies. From Sydney to Auckland is only a mere stride and wc may depend on it that this Chinese invasion will spread. So long as the United States were open to the Chinese the colonies had nothing to dread, but now that the seaports of America are all but closed, the inhabitants of the severely over populated Kingdom of China will endeavor to find a what is going on in Queensland and New South Wales it is evident they have turned their covetous and hungry

eyes in the direction of the colonies,and the sooner colonists insist upon effective measures being taken to prohibit their arrival in shiploads the better will it be for all concerned.