THE CHINESE QUESTION IN MELBOURNE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 141, 19 June 1880, Page 2

THE CHINESE QUESTION IN MELBOURNE.

The Chinese question is exciting much attention in Melbourne, owing t« their competition. The cabinet-makers ave fnirly lu-aloji out of tho Hold, ami ninny first-class artizaus are almost starving. Men who 12 months since readily eiiniotl £2 10s per week* are now unable to got work at .t'l per week. It appears that the Chinese are imported by the leading Chinese here, and the best Chinese cabinetmakers only board. They live in filthy hovels in a wretched manner, working almost day and night, and barely allowing themselves time to sleep. In efteot, their condition is worse than that of the mist abject slaves. The contention is that it is unfair coninetion to European labour, and it is seriously proposed to turn tin 1 C'hsnese out of the country, and refuse to admit others. If something is not done, Chinese riots are likely to occur.—Melbourne Correspondent Town anil County Journal.

We are a good deal exercised just now ou the subject of chairs (writes the Herald's Melbourne correspondent), tlw Exhibition Commissioners, having advertised for five hundred dozen of theso articles of furniture, have imposed the condition that thoy shall not be made by Chinamen, against which restriction thcro is much complaint by freo traders, and for which restriction there is much gmttilation by protectionists. The condition so imposed is an outcome of the cry lately raised against theChinoso cabinet-makers, who are complained against for bringing down the price of furniture, by working for small wages. As the bulk of tlw Exhibition Commissioners nro protectionists, being all appointed by the lato Government, it was quite to bo expected that they should take the opportunity of carrying out in practice their peculiar views. Such a restriction, of comvc, moans that, as is the case with all protectionist enactments, a certain clas9 is to be subsidised at the expense of the taxpayers ; but it is exactly in this Ugh l that protectionists cannot see the jostic* of it. Considering, however, that tlw the Government is just now ocononiisii':,' in every direction, and is, in fact, in n difficulty not only how to make up tlw deficit in the rovonuo' of .£300,000, but of how to moke both ends meet, and that it is this very Exhibition whoso cost represents the deficit, it is a little irritating to seo the managers flinging the nwncy away so roeklosSy; for, of courso, such >' restriction as the Commissioners have imposod will niako a diflbrenco of probably illsoo in tho price of chairs, not lospw? of tho quality boing worso than it Wtfiw bo if tho competition were unfettered.