CHINESE IMMIGRANTS' BILL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 402, 18 June 1881, Page 2

CHINESE IMMIGRANTS' BILL.

The following is a short resume of the Chinese Inmvgrants’ Bill that will bebrought before the Assembly during the present session It is provided that the. Act is only to come into operation when the Governor-in-Council is satisfied that the Chinese rathe Colony exceed 5000., Ships arriving in the Colony containing more than one Chinaman to every ten tons of their tonnage, the owner, charterer, or master is rendered liable to a penalty not exceeding £lO for each passenger so carried in excess. The master on arrival is to give a list of the Chinese passengers on board, and before landing he must pay to tho Collector of Customs£lo for every such man. This shall not apply to. any Chinese member of the crew, unless such member lands with the intention, of remaining in the Colony. If the master neglects to pay the poll tax ho is liable to a penalty not exceeding £lO for each Chinese permitted to land 'ithout being paid for. In addition to any such penalty the vessel shall be forfeTed, ana may be seized, condemned, and disposed ofin like manner as ships forfeited for a breach of any law relating to the Customs, of the Colony. On payment of the poll tax the Customs officer shall give each Chinese a certificate, which shall always be admitted as evidence of the same having been. paid. If at any time within, three years from the date of land--, ing any Chinese.in respect of whom such sums shall have been paid, such Chinese

shad depart from the Colony to parts beyond the seas, and shall before his prove to the satisfaction of the Colonial Treasurer (]) that during his. residence in tbe Colony he has not been confined in any gaol or lock-up, or convicted of any offence ; (2) that he lias, pidd all fees and penalties imposed upon, nim under the provisions of any act in force in the Colony ; (3) that be has paid)

all expenses in respect to his confinement j or medical treatment in any public hospital, chaiituble institution, lunatic asylum, or oilier place for the treatment, care, or cure of such perscn ; (4) ami that no expense or charge has fallen upon the Government for his support —then, upon production of his certificate, the amount so paid in respect of such Chinese shall be repaid to him on board of the vessel by which he shall so depart; but if he shall fail to make such proof .vithin the period aforesaid, the amount shall be paid into the public account, aud form Consolidated Fund, If any OhinesTpaiall enter or attempt to enter the Colony without the poll tax of £lO being paid, he shall be for such oflence liable to a penalty not exceeding £lO. At any hearing the justices may decide upon tljfeir own view and judgment if any person charged before them is a Chinese or not within the meaning of the Act. All Chinese within the Colony at the time the Act comes into operation may within two months thereafter obtain a certificate of exemption of payments under the Act. A certific.de of exemption may also be granted in cases of temporary visits to the Colony.