CHINESE IMMIGRANTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 330, 17 October 1908, Page 5

CHINESE IMMIGRANTS.

» THE READING TEST Since the beginning of August last, thei Chinese population of New Zealand has very perceptibly .fison. Twelve of Mr. John Chinaman's-huge family arrived in Wellington during August, thirty-three landed during September, and twenty-seven during the present' month, a total of seventy-two Chinamen, ten of whom had previously been in the Dominion. Other members of the family who desire to settle in New Zealand under tho same condition- as formerly will require to hurry up, for on Friday next,. October 23, another obstacle will be placed in tho path, an obstacle which will occasion them some tribulation.'' ' This additional restriction, which was passed in 1907' and reserved for the Royal Assent (now granted),' provides that no Chinese immigrant will bo allowed to land in.Now.Zealand unless he can demonstrate, to , the, satisfaction of the Collector of Customs', or, other principal officer, at some port in tho-Dotninion, that he:can read a printed passage of not less than one hundred words of tho English language, such passage to bo selected at the discretion of the Customs officers referred to. If the almondoyed candidate should consider that the test has been too strict, or unfair, he may appeal to a magistrate, who shall himself conduct a further reading test, and his decision shall bo final. Any shipmaster who lands, or permits , to land, any Chineso immigrant who has not fulfilled the requirements above stated, shall be'.'liable to. a maximum fine of £50; similarly, should "John" mako a desperate and wholly ' unauthorised attempt to plant his feet on New Zealand terra firma, ho will be as 6evoroly dealt with as if ho had evaded, or attempted to evade, tho £100 poll-tax. i So that, between the poll-tax and the education test—which, by tho way, should stimulate tho inculcation of the principles of the' English language among aspiring youths of the Flowery Land—Chinese immigrants '.will find New Zealand a very difficult place to enter. Many will be called, but few will be chosen. ' " The above restrictions shall not, however, ; apply to any Chinese who, whether before or after tho passing of tho Act, has left or shall leave New Zealand after registering his name and thumb-print with a collector of" Customs, and who returns to the Dominion within four yoars of such registration, .and satisfies a collector of Customs'as to his identity, or to the return to New Zealand before January 1, 1909, of any Chineso who . has at any time theretofore been resident in this country, and is able to satisfy a collector of Customs on that point.