CHINESE IN QUEENSLAND

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 53, 27 March 1909, Page 4

CHINESE IN QUEENSLAND

The curse of the Chinaman lies heavily on North (Queensland, writes a correspondent to tlie Bulletin. Entering the salubrious tableland town of Atherton by rail, the miles of Chinese-leased farms that stretch away on either side oi tile lijic give the place the appearance of u province in Southern China. The tired white land-owner linds it more profitable or Jess arduous to lease their property to Ah Wong than to cultivate it themselves. But, now Lliat the corn ami 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 where one Ah Wong flourished, a few years ago, there are two or three of him now. Newehum Chinamen who cannot sprak a word of English are contiimallv appearing on the Alherton tableland, and it seems fairly certain that they have landed surreptitiously on the const of the gulf ami travelled southwards. Until the next census is taken, it will be practically impossible to guage the increase in the Chinese population in the North ; but when authoritative ligures are available Australians may at last realise the foolishness of leaving their northern shores unpatrolled. hum Chows chief stronghold is at Cairns, which town is blighted with the "Oriental magnificence" of his dirt and filth, lite pity of it is that the yellow end or Cairns is not only a miserable collection of insanitary shanties infested by 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 hureous stake traps. The corn and maize, which are the chief agricultural products of the tableland, are despatched to the same quarter, whence the white people obtain their supplies. The two newspapers and 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