CARTOONING A CHINAMAN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 546, 29 June 1909, Page 8

CARTOONING A CHINAMAN.

■; HE SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTES. ON -TOT-CHINESE CONSUL'S ADVICE. .!,;-:.vJßy-.Teleeraph.— Prose Aesociation.) •- :^:--''■:'■.-' ':■ ''''•'/■'■ ''Auckland,-. Juno 28. Robert .James. Lucas, a fruit dealer, was charged; at the PoUce Court this" afternoon with exhibiting:an.dffensive cartoon. It was explained that a Chinaman,: named Low King, had lately opened a fruit shop near Lucas 3 prcmißes, and. ,'Lucas , evidently thought that:he had better.start fighting his competitor early. ~ On the -afternoon when the new shop ; , opened, he displayed in his window" a-placard'. bearing -- the. following words: "I don't; want the earth; I only want a small profit-so ,don't-patronise the Uhlnamanj-.your own colour-first.'"' The placard was adorned with a cartoon of an unprepossessing Chinaman, with a' pronounced pig-tail. : .- ■-.. ■-• . "-.-.■. •v , . . ■ The .Chinos© residents of the''city • very strongly; object to tho cartoon. and, after the advice lof the consul in Wellington had .been taken, it was resolved to lay an information, .under Section: , 12 of the Justices.: of the Peace Act • against Liicae", praying; tbat, v ,he. -should bo over-: not "to:: such . cartoons, which, were calculated to cause a breach of .tho peace, . . . . ■..■-. .:,-;■• fflw a PPeared.'for- complainant, cartoon", had caused a ereat deal of indignation amongst the Chinese in Auckland, and it required thoeffortß of the most:influential amongst ; them" to prevent :tliem;from; showing, their resentment"in a practical manner.- "No matter how stronglv one might-feel .against tho Chinese,", continued .Mr.: Napier, '!he was v not,entitled to break: _the- lawywhich: ■'protected them-, in ■exactly the same : manner as if protected white ;men.,. This cartoon was calculated to stir up Tacial hatred for tho : purpose of dcfondant'B private gain." ■■■ ~^,, Ma EHrate:. I;quite. agree with you' that the are .entitled to the same protection ■ from' the law as' tho'British ..Defendant said that .the competition of the Chinese/was crushing. "■'■'. . ..-' ■v'The-Magistrate: That has nothing at all 40 ,'?? The Chinese are entitled to protection.tho same as you are. • They eet no' .privileges.above, the. British, but: they get .the-samo.privileges under-the law-ex-actly.": This is a very offensive thing, as you mustseefor yourself. I do not know who drow-it.but tho artist should be brought bofore;the' Court for! aiding and , abetting. :;;.Mr.>;.Napier.:. My> instructions are to set suretiee'toikeep'-the peace. ■■' .."-,■' The;.prosecution; agreed to accept defendant s: own bond, and he was bound over in the sum of £25, not to repeat tho offence and ordored to pay costs (£3 14s. 6d.). The -Magistrate took further occasion to point out to defendant that it was a traditional glory -that'all who .came under tho British Flag should enjoy its protection. Defendant: I pity tho white mar. who enters into competition with the Chinese in business.' ,-. • •; '. . -.-.. Tho Magistrato,: '-Well; you see'the Chinese do not spend their money in drink. . Defendant Neither do I. . Tho : Magistrate: Ido not say you do, but these people are entitled to protection, and they shall have it. .-\ , .'