"THOSE UNFORTUNATE CHINESE."

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 141, 15 December 1881, Page 3

"THOSE UNFORTUNATE CHINESE."

•to THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING POST.

Sir— On the 24th ultimo jou did me the favour to inßert a letter, signed " A Magistrate," commenting on the police prosecution of the Chine-e under the Gaming and Lotteries Act, ard the harsh decision of the two sitting Magistrates. Your clear statement and able remarks on the case, and on the Act itself, in this ovening's Post induces me again to trespass on your readers' attention. My sole object in now doing so is the hope that those amongst the Wellington public who desire to see the laws impartially administered will at once adopt some practical steps to procure a reversal of the severe sentence inflicted on men who were ignorant of the law, and who are unable to speak and write for themselves. We ¦re told by tho highest legal authorities that in England — the home of freedom, and where the proud boast atill exists that justice is meted out with an impartial hand to rich and poor, and to men of all oolour and nations— there is a "remedy for every wrong." I submit that if this flagrant violation and slur on the very name of Justice is allowed to pass without some action being taken, other abuses may be attempted to be perpetrated. I therefore respectfully submit that a public meeting should bo forthwith convened by hia WoT«hip the Mayor, in order to consider and to take such measures as may be the tight necessary to appeal to the Minister of Justice on the subject. lam happy to say that one or two gentlemen havo already taken the initiative, and that a requisition is in conrße of signature for presentation to his Worship. This is no question of party politics, but one all persons and parties should unite in doing their utmost to get rightid. At present it rests as a painful reflection on the men of Wellington that they are careless and indifferent to the even-handed dispensation of the penal provisions of a very questionable pieoe of legislation. I am, &c, R. J. Duncan.