The Herald. Alexandra, Thursday, August 6, 1903. CHINESE LABOUR ON THE RAND.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 378, 6 August 1903, Page 4

The Herald. Alexandra, Thursday, August 6, 1903. CHINESE LABOUR ON THE RAND.

Ws note with a considerable degree of satisfaction that it is likely that during the present session a motion will be submitted to Parliament protesting against the introduction of Chinese labor into the South African mines.; In asking the Premier a question in the House the other day as to whether any action, would, be taken in this direction, Mr Fowlds said that if, after all the sacrifices we bid made to maintain (the integrity of the Empire in South Africa, that portion of the Empire was '< to' be flooded with Chinese to the ex j j elusion of our own fellow Empiremen j in the working of these mines, a very great wrong would be done; He said that having lived in that country, he knew what he was talking about, and he assserted that it was possible for labom in those mines to be done by our own people; and it was only si question of the greater profits that the capitalists were to get out of the undertaking. In reply, the Premier said that " the Band mines were within a Crown colony, and ? question arose as to how far they in New Zealand could go with propriety in acting as an advisory body, through the Governor, to the Secretary of State, in this matter, : That was what they had to consider. He had not hesitated to express very strong views on the subject. It would < be a grave reflection if the result of that sacrifice was the introduction of Asiatics to work the mines, the owners of which had complained of the treatment they had received. Hut experience was that Chinese were of no earthly use underground. He would ascertain the wishes of members as to whether a resolution on the subject should be submitted to the House."We have no hesitation in expressing the opinion that the sentiments expressed on this question by the Premier and Mr Fowlds will meet with universal endorsement throughout the Colony, and that Parliament will heartily support a resolution such as that proposed. It is no doubt; as the Premier suggests* a rather delicate matter to take actio? in this direction; bnt, in View of the immense sacrifices which" the' Colony has made in South Africa in the cause of freedom, in upholding the interests j of British subjects, and'in maintaining the Integrity of the Empire, it seems wusthaflxew Zealand will "bequite I within her rights in entering a protest | to the Home Government against anv ; injustice that it is proposed to inflict oh our kith and kin on the Rand, by reason of the introduction from alien countries of cheap labour to work the mines. Due discretion would, we feel sure, b^objeryedJya carrying put the proposal so the susceptibilities of His Advisers; but, in coming from a colony that has had experience of, and can' appraise at a true value, the worth of Chinese labour, the pro'estation would carry with it a justification, and have an effect that it would ? n6t possess. It may be assumed that the hordes of Chinese who left their homes; for the Colonial goldfields were of a type superior to the average Chinamen, but regarded as workers! we assert that they are, nevertheless, Infinitely intern* to m fcfeitge watt* iim

That the Chinese workmen are practi* * 'ca|ly useless for underground work, ie a statement that has been proved by* experience; "in this Colony; and there'* are but few mine-owners who would not prefer one good white labourer to any "•■ half-dozen j Chinamen. And apart from this phase of the question, we. may allude to the evil effect that the presence of these hordes of Asiatics* have had on the well-being of the com* munity. The Chinese, generallyspeaking, constitute an undesirable* class of people that should receive no encouragement to become residents of any British country—in fact, they should be discouraged by every possible means. They are useless as citizens, practically worthless as contributors to the revenue of the country, and morally a curse to. the community,:'fofrjjhe camps in which they congregate,^# invariably sinks of immorality sand vice. They have been responsibJelfor the denudation of a great portioft**of our goldfields areas, the proceeda^of which have mostly been sent to China, from whence also comes the major |f)r« tion of the food and r clothing ' n^edlby the unlovable Chow.., But for7)ihM^vent of the Chinese, it must be^p* parent to everyone that much of 4he

gold-bearing areas to which we- refer,, particularly in Otago and "Wjbit\imd t would at the present time be mainMaing hundreds of our own less success, ful diggers, in their old age; andishe Colony would have been saved thou* sands of pounds in connection with tW Old Age Pensions-Scheme; and the pity of, it is that the poll-tax imposed some years ago was not enforced af & much earlier date* We believe that a. protest, on the lines suggested by I£f Fowlds, should be carried out; and that, where the settlement of a ■ ibw British colony is concerned, Xewj&a« ! land would be but, doing the coi§ectl thing in supplying the Home authorities with the result of her' experiefcK of the baneful effects of Chinese ia&mgration. ' . ■- , ■>*£.!*

THE EARLY-QLOSISG MOVEMENT. From an advertisement appeariag 2a another column, it will be observe*! that the business people of Alexandra have decided that on and afte%tho 10th inst., their places of business'wfi be closed at 6 o'clock; each evwve, with,the exception of Saturday, yfWu the closing hour will be 10; p.m. SWo feel sure that the new system will fce hailed with satisfaction, as being the inauguration ot a much-needed reform —it it, indeed, but anticipating ft reform that ViH in all probability be made compulsory by law berore: the end of the present session of Pallia* ment. In many ■ other goldfieldg towns—if not in all of early'dosing system has long sinoe been in force, and it "appears to work to the entire satisfaction of merchant! and customer alike; and , why. the same system has not been in vogue in Alexandra long ere now, involves ft problem which we have no time to attempt to solve. True, the practice of closing at six o'clock has previously been attempted; but the movement jcollapsedj owing either to a lack of unanimity, or organisation- on theiparfc of shopkeepers or to the want of ft proper trial, or perhaps partly to both. We are aware that there are some people who aver that the early-closing system- will greatly inconvenience them* insofar that they cannot reach the shops before the closing hour; but we"think this objection is more imagi« nary than real. Similar objections were raised when the half-holiday system came into force; and we; pause here to inquire how many at the present time experience any Inconvenience in con* sequence of the shops being closed on Thursday afternoons. Why, no one ever thinksof going shopping on the half-holiday ! And so it will be with the six-o'clock closing, after the system has,been in foree fora>rief ? peripd. There are, we are afraid, many people in the world who wneiil any movement is made to reform or alter any custom with which they hayeleng been the whole universe will speedily be disintegrated chaos generally will result. ,• Sneaking ewibusly, however; ye do pot Malty think any customer will be inconvenienced from the fact of the places of busihess hours efrlic i each' Evening' than owe W pro sentr And even if venience did result to ft' fefe eurely they can muster up some feelinpa of consideration for' e%%eea !who are at present obliged .to be on for twelve hours (<teKeven more) per day, and- who are thereby practically debarred from tak : n£- j <r* |in any ?. form of recreation ci- amuse--ment. Almost the entire population of Alexandra may be said to be workers, and if they will apply to themselves the moral of .the good old "golden rule," we feel sure there will be a unanimous response on the part of the public to assist the business people in Jjgpjfc ; fendable desire to (ratufcef wolidng-hlßrs- of#their employees. We have not sufficient space to deal further with, this, question at present, but we trust that on and aftt| the lOtbl this -town will make a point of doing their shopping strictly before the : time stipulated. ti' 3 >ill ■■■■'■ .