SOUTH AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 32, 8 February 1904, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICA.

CHINESE LAHOUK QUKSTiON. LONDON, l-Vfo. In the House of Commons, the Right Hon. A. f.ytlelion, Secretary of State for Uie Colonies, stilted tliut owing to its urgency theCovernment was imul Je to postpone its decision regjaKding the iutroil-ictiou of Chinese 'into the Tiwisvaut beyond the termination of the debute on the Addreso' j iji-d{ejil,v. Addresses and evidence showed lliut. the introduction of Asiatics was in accordance wit'h the WIA}»-S of the people. Tlie (iovei'nment would not ugree to a referendum. MEETING AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Feb. 0. About 4UO people attended the public meeting held to-day to protest aguinst. the introduction, of Chinese labour into the Hand mines. The Mayor (Mi- J. (J. W. Aitkenl presided, |and tile Premier, Sir ,Ic,s-' eph Ward, Hons. J. Mcdmvan und T. Kennedy Macdonuld wese present. The Premier, in steading a resolution condemning the proposal, said that it was never contemplated that the graves of their fullen brines should be desecrated in such a manner as was now proposed. Tnis was an Imperial question, and the colonies had a right, after sending their sons to win the Transvaal, to express their opinions and protest against Chinese importations. Tne British Government was breaking faith with • the Boers, who would have fought to the last man if they believed such a niovo was contemplated. He would have approved of a lefei-endut'iu l>y tf<e people of the Transvaal. Mr Seddon denounced the proposal as iniquitous and an attempt to introduce "veiled slavery." Speeches were also made by Hon. T. Kennedy Macdcnald, Mr Xaughtjn (President of the Trades Council), McTavish (just returned from South Afilica) P. J. O lb-gun, alu i Hampton. Resolutions were earr«] with acclamation, denouncing the introduction of Chinese and commending the action of the Premier and tho Wellington' press. The Chief Justice* (Sir Robert Stout) sent a letter of sympathy with the objects of the meeting.