Absent Without Leave

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 193, 4 November 1927, Page 8

Absent Without Leave

SEARCH FOR CHINESE STRAGGLERS

Visitors Who Abuse Their Privilege

PLAINLY designed to discourage the importation of cheap Chinese labour, legislation requiring a bondsman tor every incoming Chinese came into force on Tuesday. It is the general belief of those in touch with the situation that a deposit of more than £lo—the sum now required—would have been more effective.

CHECK to the flow of prohibited * immigrants is demanded by the fact that nearly every Chinese arriving on a temporary permit endeavours to overstay the authorised sis months. Recent revelations in Australia furnish further reasons for uneasiness. Something more than a haphazard arrangement lies behind the smuggling system exposed at Cremorne, Sydney, and again at Fremantle, Western Australia, where more than 50 Chinese were imprisoned in a

ship’s ballast tank, under appalling conditions, and there is no guarantee that a similarly audacious enterprise will not be attempted in New Zealand. VISITORS DISAPPEAR For the present the authorities are chiefly worried over the disappearance of over 100 Chinese landed at Auckland under the temporary permit system. The Influx of trespassers has not been confined to Auckland. At Wellington, also, Celestials who are now missing have entered the country, and

the Customs officers at the two ports probably have over 200 on their books.

These Chinese came into New Zealand on the system which allows any alien the privilege of landing in New Zealand, and staying for six months. Except for Americans, all foreigners pay the £lO deposit as a guarantee of good faith, and Chinese and Indians are usually the only ones who. attempting to remain in the country, do not return to Americans entering New Zealand are subject to no restrictions, which is an entirely one-sided arrangement, for New Zealanders seeking to settle in thd States find themselves up against the quota system, hedged about with many harsh regulations. Theoretically there should be no difference between a Chinese, and, say, a Frenchman; but in practice the Celestial himself raises the distinction by trying to lose himself among his exiled compatriots. One result is to be seen in the frequency with which unauthorised Chinese have been appearing at the Auckland Police Court, charged with outstaying the period allowed by their permits. Auckland's Chinese population is already substantial. At gatherings at the Avondale or Mangere market gardens, at the City Markets, or in the vicinity of the Kwong Cheu Club, Hobson Street, occasions when the yellow man predominates are evidence that China is well represented in the city. CHINESE CITIZENS

As a settled citizen the Chinese has shown his worth. Chinese fruiterers have almost captured the city fruit trade, and the market gardens of the outer suburbs are examples of the result of well-ordered industry. Further, the contributions made by Chinese citizens to hospital funds and other charities signify that they recognise their civic responsibilities. But that is no reason why other Chinese, however well-intentioned, should be permitted to flout the laws of the country. In 1920 an influx of 1,477 Chinese alarmed the legislators of the Dominion, and as a result the Immigration Restriction Amendment Act was passed. It provided for a definite restriction on the number of Chinese who could be carried by passenger vessels for New Zealand ports, and in addition limited the number admitted to an annual quota. This did not, of course, exclude those admitted with other aliens under the temporary permit system, and it is for stragglers so introduced that the Customs and Police Departments are now searching.