THE CHINESE AMENDED BILL.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 143, 21 June 1881, Page 2

THE CHINESE AMENDED BILL.

The amended bill for the regulation of Chinese immigration is now circulated. The amendments made in committee of the whole House are wholly in the direction of increased stringency. The chief alterations from the original draft consist (1) in the excision of the second clause, which provided that the bill should be brought into operation when the Governor in Council should be satisfied that the Chinese population of the colony exceeded five thousand persons, and (2) in tho striking out of the latter part of Bection 9, now numbered 8 through tho removal of section 2. The portion removed is that which provided that any Chinese departing from the colony within three yeara from the dato of arrival, and not having during his stay been convicted of offences or become a charge en the colony, might have returned to him the poll-tax of J6lO whioh he had to pay on landing. A3 tho bill now stands, this sum becomes a species of "import duty" on Chinamen, and is to be "paid into tho Public Account, and form part of tho Consolidated Fund." These form additional restrictions against a Chinese invasion, but none too rigorous. When wo consider tho misery and anxiety which these Mongolians have been the means of introducing into Sydney in the shape of the dreaded disease, small-pox — one of the most terrible scourges of humanity — it is impossible to help feeling that no provision can be too stringent against tho possibility of a like calamity befalling ns in New Zealand. To tho Chinese tho people of New South Wales are indebted for an importation which is the direst misfortune that has ever yet visfted our siater colony. It behoves us to be wise in time, and to profit by the painful experience of our neighbors. Wo earnestly hope that the present bill will be speedily passed through its third reading in the Lower House, and through all stages in the Legislative Council.