CHINESE IMMIGRATION.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 400, 3 January 1872, Page 3

CHINESE IMMIGRATION.

We make tlie following extracts from the Final Report of the Select Committee ap"pointed by the General Atse'mhly to inquire into the subject of Chinese immigration : — On October the 19th. 1871, the total number of Chinese in New Zealand was 4,215, '.distributed as follows (by provinces) viz : — Canterbury. 9 ; Wellington, 17 ; Nelson, 3 ; Marlborongh, 3 ; Auckland, 2 ; Weatlaud, 24; Otago, 4.159. Of the whole number, 5 are set down as carpenters, 3,570 a3 miners 10 > as store- ... keepers, 1 as au hotelkeeper, 49 as gardeners, ",S as agents, Bas cooks, 12. as -laborers, 12 as hawkers, 6 as cabinetmakers, and 415 occupation not stated," the bulk of these last being new arrivals, and probably bound for $he goldfields. By comparison with the last census of the "colony it will be therefore seen that the Mon- ; goliau element is rather less than If per cent, of the whole population ; though in Otago, where the Chinese are principally located, they form nearly. 6 per cent of the population. The evidence and information taken and "collected has been very various in its character, showibg wide differences of opinion as regards the various points of your Committees inquiry '; but your Committee find that the balance of evidence is largely in -■'favor of the following statements, viz. : — . . 1. That the Chinese are industrious and frugal. • 2. That they are as orderly citizens as Europeans. " 3- That there is no special risk to the morality or 'security of the community to be apprehended from their presence in "the colony. ' 4. That they are not likely to introduce any special infectious diseases. o. That they ai*e well adapted for menial /w and light, mechanical and for agricul"|A tiiral occupations. '6. "But that 'nearly all those who come to this Colony do so for the purpose of , 'mining for gold. ; *7. That, as a rule, they occupy and turn . to'good account ground which at present would not pay the European c . r -miner. *8. That, 'as'a rule, they return to China so : s6oii as they have amassed* a net , > Buth'bf '"from L'loo Upwards. "9. That rio'corisiderable number of them •are-at : any time likely to become per- , niarieut' settlers : in. the country. ;. ' i ■ •10. That they spend less per head than the European population. • 11. That ;tlie /presence of Chinese in the 'country liiis not hitherto entailed any additional police expenditure. In view of tlie foregoing, the Committee 'ai'e'df'oijinibhtha't there have been no suffi'ci^n't : grduiids "shown for the exclusion; 6f Chiiie'se, and no "sntticient case has, up to the present time, been made gut to require the 'Committee to propose that legislative action '"should be taken, having for effect the exclii ■■.-. sion of the Chinese, or the imposition of 'special burdens upon them. Wm. 'J.-SißWAui),. Chairman. . •