The Waipawa Mail WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1878.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 30, 25 December 1878, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1878.

. Having in view the great dearth of \ labor which prevails in almost everv part of New Zealand, one might imagine that there would be a difficulty in getting up an anti-Chinese - agitation in this colony. Such is not the case, however. A public meeting was convened in Wellington last week for the purpose of protesting against the action of the Australian Steam Navigation Company in employing Chinese on their steamers. The large hall in which the meeting was held was densely crowded, and the Mayor of the City presided, and in taking . the chair intimated that his sympathies were entirely with the object of the conveners of the meeting. The late • Mayor of Wellington made an able speech in support of the following re- . solution :—“ That the citizens of Welj lington desire to place on record their determination to oppose the introduc- ) tionof Chinese labor into this colony.” The feeling against a large influx* of Celestials is widespread, if we are to judge by the names of those who took part in the meeting. Merchants, politicians, and business men were there to protest against the “ yellow scourge.” However, by far the most noteworthy circumstance in connection with the agitation was the expression of opinion on the part of a Minister of the Crown. The following letter was read from the Hon. Mr Ballance : —“ Government Buildings, Wellington, December 14, 1878. Dear sir,—l have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, in which you invite me to attend a public meeting on the 17th, called to consider certain resolutions on the Chinese question. As I shall not be able to attend the meeting, I take this opportunity of expressing my warm sympathy with its object. It has appeared to me that the care which is rightly exercised with regard to the selection of immigrants from Europe should not be relaxed when the voluntary immigration of an inferior race threatens to derange all the just relations of capital and labor, and to produce social results likely to degrade the position of the European laborer. The advocacy of Chinese immigration is of the same kind as that of slavery, in this important respect, that it is founded upon the desire to increase the wealth of the capitalist class by the subjection of the laborer. To those, therefore, who view the diffusion of prosperity and happiness among all classes—if not equally, at least with equal opportunity—as the highest aim of government, it must appear that the unre--1 stricted immigration of such a people I

as the Chinese might become a national calamity of the greatest magnitude. In the attainment of the object you have in view a difficulty may be found in the treaty obligations of the mother country ; but it would be unfortunate if these should intervene to prevent a colony from regulating the introduction of Chinese in accordance with its own interests. If we may legislate for the introduction of such immigrants as we desire, it seems equally right that the Chinese, whom we do not desire, should be kept out by an embargo on vessels, in the form of a capitation tax, that would act prohibitively.’* Mr Ballance hints that the treaty obligations of the mother country may bar legislation

here. No doubt. Great Britain would be loatli to sanction any law which would restrict Chinese immigration whilst she herself by force of arms compelled the Mongul Empire to open its ports to British merchants. However, Imperial interests hitherto have been surmounted by colonial persistency, and if New Zealand decides to keep out the Chinese, the mother country will not force us to take them.