THE CHINESE QUESTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1737, 15 May 1888, Page 4

THE CHINESE QUESTION.

Sidney, May 11. Th n Chincso passengers by '.he Afghan and Te Aunu nre Inking leg«l proceedings to test tho legality of the action of the Government in retaining them aboard the steamer. Tho Goal Lumpers' Union have decided to boycott the Chinese. London, May 10. Lord Knutsford, Secretary of State for the Colonies, replying to the requests of Sir Graham Berry, Agent-General for Victoria, said he thought if the colonies agreed to limit the number of Chinese who should be permitted to land in Australasia it would lis preferable to a policy of total exclusion. Sir F. Dillon B«ll is of opinion that the Irrperinl Governmt-ut will not t»k« any action in connection! with the influx of Chinese into Anstrtlia until all the colonies are unanimous on tho subject. In ihe House of Commons Sir John Gorst, in replying t« a question asked by Mr ll'-nniker Heaton, said the Govern- j ruent was aware of the strong objection the Austruli'iu Governments had to the Chin'-ce landing on their shores, and the mfifctfr vvas receiving the careful consideration of the Cabinet. Washington, May 10, Tho Senate bus ratified the AmericanChinese treaty for excluding Chinose luborois from the United States for a period of twenty year*. THE SHEW CHINESE BIT4LS. Wellington, May 11. Tho Chinese Immigrants Act Amendment Bill was circulated this evening. The "ill limits the number of Chinoss that may bo brought in any ship tooue for every 100 tons, and incu-uses the penalty for disobedience from £2O to £SO, nlso making it an offence for a shipmaster permit any Chinese to escape from his vessel befotv tho poll tax sha'l have been paid. Any Ghiii'-se not, paying poll tax may be imprisoned for two) re months. Chinese crews who do not land, or officials or Chinese who are naturalised in 'he colony, are r-xi'mpt from the poll tax. '1 here are provisions againet- evasion of the Act by trans-shipping, and ill ell proceedings under the Ait the burden of disproof i-. can on the defendants*. Chinosi »ro <lis qualified from voting at Any locil e cct.inii units* nitiU'ilist'd}. and any names of noti-naturilisoil Chinese that may bo 011 the v,.tiug list ar- it) he cauonlle.'!, notioo lioirg sent to the poisons who uro struck oiF. it m-.y hi as v.i It> explain that in framing the Chinore Emigrants Act tho Government have been very cnieful not toexced ih« li>: its of ihoso Ads which in oMicr co'onu's have rrcived the roynl sanction. The previous N«w Z''a an) Act eonl/iiii'-d one lesiriciivo provision not in the Victorian Act. In Ihe iimv Bill tho Government have introduced all Hit* Victorian provisions, while retaining tho-o peculiar to Now Zealand.

Tlio Waroat'-a arrived at Gr«ym"Utti »t 1 o'c'ock on S turdny, bringing the (Jhinuien transhipped fiom the To Anau. There wile no demonstration of hostili y whatori". A crowd colleutoii lo h«o them Moi>t of thaui seom to have been in llie colony before, and many old (Jr*y Va'lev 'miners am among l limn. Tliry wil l bo sent up the Grey Va'ley at one, and dis tribmud among abandoned woikings. <— . . -Ll.il