FRUIT TRADE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18681, 3 May 1926, Page 6

FRUIT TRADE.

CHINESE COMPETITION. jmOOAVKN PBGTBST&,

Resentment at the growing hold of the Chinese in the fruit trade, and their rapid spread to other trades, was expressed by the Canterbury JVuitgrowers at the meeting of the Association on, Saturday night. The meeting decided to write to the Minister for Internal Affairs, endorsing the action of the Government in placing an embargo on the entry of Chinr esa to New Zealand until the end of the year, and also agreed to bring the whole matter of a White New Zealand under the notice of the Trades and Labour Council. Should Start a League. J&- A. S. Beckett introduced the subject. "I think we should endorse* the action of the Minister for Internal Affairs iu placing au embargo oil Chinese coining into tho country until the end of the yew," he said. "There has been a lot of mrrespondenoe in the newspapers on this question, for and against the Chinese, and it is up to this meeting to endeavour to get a White New Zealand League going in Christchurch. I hope that at the next meeting it will be advertised in the papers that we ask all interested in a White New Zealand to come along. "Grid-Ironing" in Auckland. "la Auckland 'grid-ironing' (the buying of land all round you) has oommenoed, and they simply force yon out. That means, if it comes down here, that we won't be able to sell at a decent price. They are creeping into the grocery and even the furniture trades up therei and we've got to move. The Government has given us a lead and wc must fight to see what we can do to keep the Chinese out. This is God's Own Country, and why should we not live in it? If the influx is not stopped we will have opium dens and gambling dens galore, and all the rest that migiht follow." Mr Beckett moved that a White New Zealand League be formed in conjunction with the Fruitgrowers' Association. Mr W. B. Buekton seconded tbe motion.

A Wider Organisation. Mr 11.I 1 . W. Sisson: Tou may sing out about the Chinese, but they buy a good deal of our stuff, and you might find your number ignored. I would like to see a biggqr organisation take the matter up. Mr Beckett said that he would like to see people interested form an independent league, and then the members of the Association, who wished to do so, could join up. Someone must move in the matter, he said.

"It's lUsky." Mr B. Falla: The Chinese know ail our marks. Mr Sisson: It's risky. Mr Falla: Yes, it is risky, and I consider that the move should not come from the Fruitgrowers' Association. Mr Buekton said that there was no occasion to bo afro id at present. There was not the force of Chinese here that there was in the other centres. Mr Falla aaad that the Chinese were big buyers. "They don't take a single ease; they take a whole line,"

No Animosity. Tlio chairman (Mr E. Freeman.}: We have no animosity against the men now here, but we want restrictions against others coming in. Chinese shopkeepers are not so chrty as has been stated. They are thrifty, and better adapted for the Winning of fruit shops. Yoiccs: No! No! • The chairman: But they are pushing the white man out, and it's a case of the survival of the fittest. Mr H. E. Morgan said that what was going on in Christchurch > Jijnld not be compared with Wellington and Auckland. In those centres matters were getting serious. /'There are Chinese with blouse shops, and they are in other trades. They will monopolise all the trades they can get into." For Trades and Labour Council. Mr T. Armstrong said that the question was rather one for the Trades and Labour Council. It was not for the Association. "We are a branch of the workers, and should send a recommendation to the Trades and Labour Council, asking them to take the matter up. If they are not stopped, the Chinese 'will go right into the factories." He moved that the secretary be instructed to write to the Trades and Labour Council, asking them to go into the matter. "I can sell my stuff without the Chinese," he remarked. Mr Sisson seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Beckett said that he would withdraw his motion, but would like to see a letter of endorsement go to the Minister for Internal Affairs. He moved in that direction. Mr Buekton seconded the motion, which was carried.