CHINESE RESTRICTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1844, 24 January 1889, Page 3

CHINESE RESTRICTION.

Melbourne, January 17 . A case which serves to illustrate the harsh nature of the Chinese Restriction Act recently passed by the New South Wales Parliament occurred last week. A well-known Chinese merchant of Adelaide, named Way Lee, travelled by the express train from Melbourne to Sydney last week, and when he arrived at Albury he was called upon fay a Customs officer to show his New South Wales naturalisation papers. Mr Way Lee presented bis card and said that was all the papers he had. He was a naturalised subject of South Australia and he thought that was enough permit for any colony. The Customs officer then demanded £IOO. This not being forthcoming, the officer said he would have to delay him on his journey. Mr Way Lee then requested to be taken to the Premier, who happened to be travelling by the same train. The Customs officer informed Sir Henry Parkes that he had orders to arrest all Chinamen without naturalisation papers, without respect to persons. Sir Henry then said that he would take Mr Way Lee under bis protection, and be responsible for bis importation into New South \Vales. In the New South Wales Assembly Sir Henry explained that Mr Way Lee was simply travelling on business, and as the Victorian Government had allowed him to travel through that colony and the South Australian Government guaranteed his return to Adelaide, he exempted him from the operation of the poll tax. He knew that the law was violated, but as this was a bard case, and it was impossible to pass a special Bill to meet it, he thought that his action was justified.