THE CHINESE QUESTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8379, 13 March 1907, Page 5

THE CHINESE QUESTION.

:- : ! (To \ , Sir,—ln your issue of the 7th instant, there appears a letter on the Chinese storekeeper of New Zealand, and Masterton in particular, by Mr Hornsby, M.H.R. That gentleman must surely have had a most severe bilious attack when penning such an effusion. To my mind, hs does not bring any sound reason, far less a semblance of British justice, into any of his points. In the first place, he

associates the person who purchase" any article from a Chinaman with all the evil habits the Chinese race are guilty of. Now, such an assertion is mere silly twaddle. lam sure if Mr Hornsby required a few lemons .one morning, and the Chow had them for sale (probably no other fruiterer in Carterton that morning), he would make the purchase from John, and no reasonable person would blame him for it. What the writer has seen of the Chinese in Masterton, in a business way, is everything that could be desired. He is most obliging, sells his goods at a reasonable rate, and is also a very peacable, law-abiding citizen, and deserves to make a few pounds. It would be a good thing for some people in this district if they would just take a leaf out of his book; they might be better off financially to-day. There are lots of evils that the human race is heir to, and we in New Zealand have certainly inherited our share. Of course, Mr Hornsby may have the innocence of childhood, and know of none but those he has read of in the Chow. He also raves about keeping New Zealand white, /when a proportion of the best land in the North Island is under the ownership of niggers. It will take many years r before this colony gets to the yellow ■/ stage even. Sir, George Grey is quoted re keeping our race pure. Are we doing so (with the Chinaman barred)? I think Mr Hornsby has suggested the most despicable method possible of treating any class of people, namely, by boycotting. When the Government' acccept the £IOO poll-tax from John, he ought to be allowed the same show as the rest of us, and if his moral life is as bad as Mr Hornsby insinuates, then why shouldn't he rather lead a movement to raise the poor heathen Chinee to the level of the muchvaunted white. In conclusion, I hope Mr Hornsby "may be brought to see the error of his ways and be wise" in this case ! at least. Apologising for encroaching so largely on your valuable space.— Yours, etc., "^

FAIRPLAY. Tinui, March 11th, 1907.