CHINESE IMMIGRATION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 186, 31 August 1871, Page 6

CHINESE IMMIGRATION.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, — The leading Dunudin journal, though dealing with the above subject in a cautions and guarded manner, seems to have made up its mind as to its course of action on the Chinese question. It is desirable, though generally difficult, to ascertain motives. The wealth, influence, and importance of the highly respectable ship-owners, steam agents and importers of Dnnedin may be the movers of the " Daily Times" in this matter. Whoever loses, they are sure to gain by Chinese immigration. It may be right. It has at least the apparent merit of liberality, but it is very doubtful that they attach due importance to goldfields interests in this matter, and it is obvious that it is our duty to ascei'tain how our interests are likely to be affected before it is too late.

I observe in a late article sever.il ad captandmi arguments (and these are always suspicious.) It asserts simply, and without attempt at argument, that a large immigration of Chinese will benefit employers of labour "without materially affecting the wages of our own labourers." tti recommends large employment of Chinese to make farming prosperous h< j re. Surely this is to return to the ways of our fathers. I should think it better to recommend steam and machine farming for that purpose. How many Chinamen would do the work of a modern 70-horse power steam plough? a short and simple calculation enables us to answer, over two thousand ; and these costly machines, by a little management, could be made available, by hire or otherwise, to even the cockatoos of Otago.

The remarks in the article alluded to as to the advisability of large combined action in mining may merit consideration. — fain, &c., B.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, — Will there be sufficient time to get up a -memorial against Chinese immigration and forward it to our representatives for presentation during this session of the Assembly 1 I consider immediate action should be taken, for if we allow the present session to pass, it will be too late the next. A t the rate the Chinese are coming they will soon outnumber us, a*d when joined by the Maoris, backed by the Chamber of Commerce with their storekeeper adherents, they ought to be able to drive us out of the colony. So I would advise you and your contemporary, the " Otago Witness," to forward an order to the Chinese agent in China as quick as possible for type that you may be prepared to publish your journals in the Chinese language. Now, Sir, as the Tuapekaites have hereto always been first to move in any agitation to benefit the people, I think they should take the initiative in this movement against Chinese immigration, which I take for granted all miners and other labourers agree with me is a great evil. lam sorry we cannot count on the same valuable assistance from you which you rendered at the time of the land league^ on account of your Chinese proclivities as shown in your leading article published a few weeks ago ; neither can we expect the adhesion of many of the storekeepers when one of

them reckons every Chinaman worth £2 to him alone. Still, I believe a very large majority of the inhabitants of New Zealand will sign a memorial against Chinese immigration.

I should like to have seen the miners express their opinion through the columns of your journal more freely on the Subject, but as there is no time to lose, I would recommend the immediate calling of public meetings on all the principal diggings and centres of population for the pxirpose of adopting memorials, electing committees, and to obtain signatures, &c.

Hoping the miners will bestir themselves before it is too late,— l am, &c, E. Vernon. Switzers, August 18, 1871.

P.S. — If a copy of the memorial was published in the papers circulating on the diggings it would not require so many written copies for the purpose of obtaining signatures. E.Y.