CHINESE PROTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 264, 7 November 1932, Page 3

CHINESE PROTEST.

REPATRIATION MOVE.

"INTOLERABLE INSULTS." RETALIATION IN CHINA ? NEW ZEALAND TRADERS MAY BE OSTRACISED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Chinese nationals resident in New Zealand have issued a reply to the petition recently presented to Parliament urging the repatriation of Chinese. The petition, say the Chinese, is calculated to inflame the minds of New Zealauders against Chinese, and is An insult, not only to Chinese nationals, but to the country from which they came. The international code recognises that one nation bears an obligation to another to see that nationals residing within its shores arc not subject to humiliation, and that the nation itself is not insulted. Such a violation of the common decencies which should subsist between nations will inevitably have a repercussion, which will be visited necessarily upon British nationals residing within the Republic of China.

It is to the advantage of New Zealand that trade relations with China be cultivated and increased, but if intolerable insults are continued the dignity of the Chinese nation will compel it to take steps to ostracise New Zealand traders from commercial intercourse. According to the Year Book, there are only 2850 Chinese and HOG Indians in the Dominion. It is erroneous to state that the Chinese send on the average £100 to relations in China. The average is less than 50 per cent of that amount, and the money is sent to maintain the families and other relatives of Chinese residing in New Zealand. The money would not be sent if the New Zealand Government, allowed the wives and families of Chinese to come to the Dominion.

The Chinese in New Zealand are drawn from the professional, agricultural, industrial and merchant classes, and tj describe them as anything but highly respectable is false and insulting. It is mendacious to say that the living conditions of Chineee are insanitary, and the allegations of immorality are grossly libellous. The Chinese are satisfied thai a reference to the Commissioner of Police would nail the lie to the mast. They trust this will be the last time when the nationals of the country tu which they are proud to belong will be insulted.