THE CHINESE QUESTION,

Auckland Star, Volume x, Issue 2781, 2 April 1879, Page 2

THE CHINESE QUESTION,

(To the Editor),

Sir,—Tho Chinese question that.ls absorbing so much attention by all shades and classes of opinions is practically the most knotty question of modern times in relation to the welfare of the various settlers in these colonies. Tim Hon. John Sheohan in bis roinarlM at the Working Men's Club said in substance, that the time bad arrived when a check should bo put on tho inllux of the Chinese race. Have they sl* many claims upon our sympathy as those we have left behind in' our niul.b(!ila.nd, who are literally in many cases starving, and our bunion Government are straining every honourable effort to relievo them. I trow nut. Who is this Chiiiiiliiiin that hath this claim, and whi»t is it bus-ays? You (ssinic to our country with c.union, and iiiadu us open our ports. A proper thing too; it made it better for China. The world has always been ruled by physical force from Adam down to the present time. So much for that. If Bnglund made a treaty fifty years ago, that, does not say it will answer for all time. Tlie world Amoves on, and we must move with it, and look to our interests before tho interest, of others. And if we have something to spare, bestow it now. In a small colony like New /calami, if Chinese are allowed to come as fust as capitalists would like to brinjj them, we shall soon have to emigrate to start afresh ; perhaps in the interior of Afrir.-t. Jiul citizens of|Auckland don't be so foolish us to listen to the voice of the charmer, viz., (he " Saturday Night" of tho Ifith instant, No doubt n, very shrewd writer (bought tlmt by placing it in the hands of our mothers and wives, and winning them over, the object was half accomplished. f!e not too sure of that. Just fancy one of these accomplished experts taking the place of my sister. Perhaps he may start in the kituhcu, but his great scuho ol propriety coon takes him out of that, and the next we hear w that John in so industrious ho actually made all the beds. Thank you John;' if 1 was boss, perhaps you would accidentally fall down stairs (such a calamity), " and the girl you luffc behind no doubt ' would mourn. Now mothers, wives, shall thin thing ho? Sl>.ill we employ inlidels In. «>ur homos, and our nll'spri'ii;,' be thrown on tho circuits. Cod forbid. Men will you liavc your shirtf) washed by Mr Heathen bocaus.! be can Ret them up iiuor than yonder poor woman with fixel.ildreii to maintain V I fear your will if you let them come. Well there will be a nice; kettle of lish to fry if this comes to pass in our towns. And further, if this colony i; 1 culled upon to defend its honour, John 'Chinaman will say : "lie did not know what that i.-, as lm does not belong here." You find the bone and sinew for that, and I make the money to take back to China to lay mine head ou that sacred soil. Now, merchants that pay large rents, I think he will touch your interest n liltle if he comes here too fast. He has by all account taken tho shirt-making oil the Pacific slope besides various other industries in which he excels. It must be understood thai. John i* no menu competitor in anything he undertake;-,, and as he scarcely pays any rent or taxes, in n short course of time we shall have Hi our midst Honictliing like Whitechapel in London, or worse. However, 1 will leave John in abler hands, as I feel incompetent to deal with a question of so much importance.—Yours, &,c, W. Smith.