PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 42, 17 August 1895, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

TH« WOBU TDiINS. 1 he Chinese of Wellington are determined not to let the anti-Lhinese agitators have all the say, and they havo addressed a petition to tho House through Mr. Guinness, in which they set out that by treaty between Britain and China, Chinese subjects may settle or trade in any colony or dependency. Pursuant to this treaty a email number of their raoe have settlod in this colony, engaging principally in goldmining, and a few in markol gardening and store-keeping. They consume European food and uao Enropean clothing, and they deny tbe assertion that they are guilty of immorality with young girls. Other foreigners are allowed to oome to the colony without paying a jEIO poll tax, and they consider it unjust that they should be reqnirod to pay it, and be threatened with an oven greater tax. They claim that they are as benevolent as any other race, and always subscribe to 'send their indigent aged bjpk' to C hina. Ihey pay taxes, rates, and rents without demur, and do not compete to lower wages, nor enter into competition in the boot, cabinetmaking, and other trades, as alleged. Nearly all their food and wearing apparel is pnrchased from colonial traders and producers. Before Chinese came to New Zealand the working classes and the poor of the centres had great difficulty in procuring vegetables and fruit, for whioh exorbitant prices were oharged. The Chinese, since they took up the business, have provided a plentiful supply of cheap fruit and vegetables They claim to be law-abiding, steady, sobor, and industrious, and consider it unfair to charge them with nncleanliness when they are nnder the same eanitary laws as other oitizei s. On the goldfields they work chiefly ground abandoned by : Europeans, and so turn to profit what would otherwise be waste. 'J he offences with which- they are charged exist, tbey claim, only in the imaginations of interested people. Tbey point out that tbey do not enter into competition for the Government service, nor as shop assistants, nor do they swell the ranks of the unemployed or Beck charitable relief. New Zealanders profess to be a Christian people, and if these professions are true a spirit of Christian %ha:ity Bhould be extended to the Chinese such as New Zealanders wonld wish extended to themselvs if they were resident in a foreign land. Tho number of Chinese in the colony is, they nrge, decreasing, and instead of increasing the poll tax it should be decreased. They, therefore hope no further oppressive legislation will be passed against them. THE BANK COMMITTEE. The Bank Committee met this morning, and appointed Mr. Bnohanan Chairman of tbe House section and the Hon. Mr. Bowcn Chairman of the Joint Committee. The committee met again this afternoon, and heard tho evidence of the President of tho Bank. It is stated that the Premier is not going to add to the committee. JOTTINGS. The Legislative Council sat for only a few : minutes yesterday, dealing in Committee ' with the Otago Dock Aot Amendment Bill. After the supper adjournment of the House last evening, the Financial debate was continued by Messrs. Graham and Hone Heke. Mr. J. W. Kelly moved the adjourn, ment of the debate, and the House rose at 1.30 a.m According to Mr. Heke,- members who talk most on self-reliance are tho men who keep out of the House during argument and then rush in and " rely" on the Whips to direct them how to vote. " 1 The inordinate length of the Bank of i New Zealand discussion prevented the Financial Debate being finished yesterday, and it will now not see the end till Tuesday, when Mr. J. \V. Kelly and the Minister for Railways will speak and tho Treasurer will reply. Auckland shipowners and masters in tbe timber trade claim that the reatri tions of reccDt legislation as to deck cargoes and load-line seriously lessen the carrying s power of their vessels. They are petitioning that foreign-owned vessels Bhould be placed on the same footing. Mr. Tanner was very virtuous the other night in saying he never aßked any favour of tbe Government. Mr. Graham last night asked him how it was he managed to get his son into the Government Service without examination. Mr. M'Guire yesterday presented a petition from 273 settlers interested, complaining of the administration of tho West ' Coast Settlement Reserves Act. ; 'J he Bey A. S. J. Jones and 36S Feilding : settlers have petitioned the Houee, through Mr. btevens, for relig'ous instruction is schools by the Irish National Text book: The Petitions Committee considers that H. E. Croltß, late of Wellington, but now of Onehunga, has no claim for loss of office, and that Mrs. Tuko, of New Plymouth, has g no fnrther claim on the colony. ) As the matter is before the House, tb« r Petitions I'ommittee has "no recomrflend*. tion to make " on the petition against enlarging the Masterton 1 rust. Thomas Oakes, of Wellington, . having petitioned for a reward for having, with his brothers, first discovered payable gold and coal *on the West Coast, the Goldfields Committee recommends that Government procure evidence as to tbe statement. ; Mr. Buick is agitating for the Port • Underwood telephone in the interests of ' Bhippu>g. * I Mr. CarneH intends to move that cement ■ for harbonr works be duty free. Mr. Mere- ' dith in to move to the same effect with rei gord to wheat, oats, barley, and potatoes. There are now 98 notices of questions on the Order Paper of the Houee for the first day ordinary business is resumed, after the ojnclusion of the Financial Debate;