CHINESE PERMITS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 351, 11 May 1928, Page 16

CHINESE PERMITS

SHOULD BE TIGHTENED UP, SAYS JURY AGENT GUILTY OF FRAUD “In view of the evidence of this case, a recommendation should be made to the proper authorities that steps be taken to prevent Chinese from overstaying their time allowed by the permit.” The above rider was added by the jury which returned a verdict of guilty against Charlie Lee, a Chinese who was tried on four charges of having obtained a total of £66 from three of his countrymen by falsely representing that lie would obtain extensions of their permits to stay in the Dominion. The case was heard yesterday before Mr. Justice MacGregor, with Mr. Hubble for the Crown and Mr. Tong for the accused. The three men concerned were Tam Yip, Lee Lun, and Chun Loi, who arrived in Auckland in October, 1925. On April 14, 1926, it was alleged that the accused obtained £2O from See On, by falsely representing that the money was required for the extension of the permits of his employees, Tam Yip and Lee Lun. Evidence was given by the men through an interpreter. The defence was that the accused had been engaged by the men to obtain their extensions, and he had done so and had been paid for his services The accused 'was known as a Chinese agent. In the course of his summing up, his Honour said there was reason to doubt the credibility of the accused. After hearing the verdict, his Honour said he agreed with it, and was of the opinion that a great deal of looseness in .connection with the permits had -been disclosed. The rider would be sent to the proper authorities. The prjsqner was ’remanded for sentence.