CHINESE FRUITERERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8073, 2 April 1906, Page 3

CHINESE FRUITERERS.

TO TIIH KMTOII. Sib,—Your correspondent " Search- ' light" lias chosen a misnomer for lus pseudonym, or else the mechanism of his investigating medium must be sadly out of order. He answers his own (|uestion, " Why. jire the Chinkies here?" by averring that their shops are more up-to-date, that they stock better fruit, that they are cheaper, and keener for business than the European fruiterers. Permit me; Sir, as one who has viewed with some concern the gradual but sure ousting of the white fruiterer ly the Celestial, to deny in toto "Searchlimit's" assertions. The shops in New PI; mouth speak for themselves, and I defy " Searchlight " to point out wherein the Chinese shops, and, I may add, their surroundings, are more up-to-date. As to the yellow man keeping better fruit, what has " Searchlight" to say to the recent-conviction of Chinese in Wellington for selling putrid I aninas P Has he ever heard of the Haining and Taranaki street nurseries, where the innocent Chow was in the lyibit of ripening bananas iu the fetid atmosphere peculiar to the underneath of doss benches ? " Searchlight's" rays must objects iu a light peculiar to his own imagination, if he finds in the suave Chinkie urnile au inducement to deal with him. No, Sir, the Chinese only beats the white fruiterer because of his lower standard of living. The Chinese as a factor in the business community would soon cease to exist, if the laboring man and the labor unionists were true to their principles. The Chinese are not to blame for seeking to make the most of their opportunities. Those people who deliberately spend their money at the shops of the Celestials, in preference to those of their own race, are morally responsible for encouraging au undesirable race in this colony. There is one lesson, however, which Now ijeahinders might with advantage learn from the Chinese —bow to conduct a boycott. China is at present showing tho United States how effectively this can bo worked j lot New Zealandors show that they also know how to squeeze. In conclusion, Sir, allow mo to congratulate you on [ the outspoken manner in which you, have dealt with this menacing problem, which I fircrly believe would be speedily solved if all the newspapers of the colony would only enter on a joint campaign on the lines adopted by you,

—I am, etc., A NEW ZKAl.A.ndeu. TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —We noticed iu youv issue of Match 31st, a tattor sigQod " Searchlight," which had tho appearance of being written by one who has some business connection with the Celestials. First, this "Chow-Lover" says their shops are more up-to-date in appearance than those of our white brothers. Now, Mi Editor, do you think this' "Chow Lover" could have used his optics when he made this most ridiculous comparison j secondly, he says they stock better fruit, in 1 irgcr quantities, and sells the same cheiper tka'i our "white brothers" do. One can see at a glance this is mere piffle; wc hare in New Plymouth frmt shops which compare favourably with any in the colony. If this " Chow Lover" is a business man, how would he like one of his yellow saints to start as an oppositionist iu his line of business'( Wc think lie would pipe a different tune. True Britishers have more stamina than to allow themselves to bo attracted by the suave smile of John Chihaman, who circulates liltlo or no money amongst the tradesmen of the town. Thanking you kindly for the space in your highly esteemed paper,—We are, etc., Colonials.