CHINESE IN QUEENSLAND

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 47, 20 March 1909, Page 3

CHINESE IN QUEENSLAND

The curse of tliu Chinaman lies heavily on North Queensland, writes a correspondent to the Bulletin. Entering the salubrious tableland town of Atlierton by rail, the miles of Chinese-leased farms that stretch away on either side of tile lino give the place the appearance of a province in Southern China. The tired white land-owner finds it more profitable | or less arduous to lease their property to Ah Wong than to cultivate it themselves. But, now that the corn and maize markets of the North, have naturally passed into the hands of the guileless celestial, the general run of white people are getting sorry. The fact that is alarming Northerners most, however, is that, although the number of Chinese who arrive by sea from other parts of Australia is comparatively small, yet I where one All Wong nourished, 1( few years ago, there are two or three of him "now. Newchuiu Chinamen who cannot' speak a word of English are continually appearing on the Atlierton tableland, and it seems fairly certain that they have landed surreptitiously 011 I lie coast of the gulf and travelled southwards. I'litil the next census is taken, it will be practically impossible to guage the increase in the Chinese population in the North ; but, when authoritative figures are available Australian!'may at last realise the foolishness of leaving their northern shores nnpatrolled. hum Chow's chief stronghold is at Cairns, which town is blighted with the ■'Oriental niagniliccnce" of bis dirt and filth. The pity of it is (hat the yellow end or Cainis is not only a miserable collection of insanitary shanties infested l>y unsavory Wing Chings, but that it is one of the chief markets in the North. The fish market for Cairns and the surrounding districts is there. Quay Hop and his relatives have the industry wholly in their hands, and have covered Trinity Inlet with their hie. .mis siakc traps. The corn and maize, which •!!•■• I he chief agricullural products .-!' Ih- lableland. are despalclicd to the same i|iiart.er. whence the white people obtain their supplies. The two newspapers mid merchants are pro-Chinese; but they would probably be that if China invaded and seized their country—provided always the coolie celestial didn't ask higher