ANTI-CHINESE LEAGUE.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 46, 22 August 1895, Page 4

ANTI-CHINESE LEAGUE.

The League met at the Exohange Bnildings last evening, Mr. Allan Ward presiding. The Secretary reported having written to the Premier asking him to become Patron of the League, but np to the present he had not received a reply. The committee set up to consider a scheme for starting a market garden submitted two schemes. The Chairman explained that it had been found that a workable scheme could be carried out for under .£250. The first propoi-al was that the League should apply for 20 acres of laud under the Land for Settlements Act. which wonld oost about £\ an aore. Allowing .£2O for the land, £5 for ploughing five acres to start with, .£2O for buildings, £2 10s for tools, iilO for plants and. seeds, £10 for incidental expenses, £54 for the wages of the head gardener for half a year, and £H for an assistant, and £25 for the carriage of the produce into the market, that would make a total ontlay of £188 10s. The snrplns could form a reserve fund, and the whole £250 oould be subscribed in '500 shares of 10s eaoh. The alternative soheme was to arrange with the farmers in the outlying districts to supply the Leagne with vegetables, and then for the-League to dispose of them to the shopkeepers in town. The latter soheme commended itself to the oommittee as likely to produce the best results, and the committee recommended its adoption. To carry it out successfully wonld require complete organisation amongst the European fruit and vegetable dealers, and also among the farmers. With this in view, the committee snggested that meetings should be called of both shopkeepers and farmers, in order that the matter might be placed fully before them. The adoption of the latter soheme wonld require the employment of someone to regulate the market and aot as the agent of the League, but that would_ be a small item. The soheme oould be put in force almost direotly, and he thought it wonld oommend itself to all classes of tho community.' In the oonrse of the disoussion whioh ensued it was argued that if tho soheme was to ftucceed it would be neoessary to undersell the Chinese vegetable vendors. There were many farmers who would and did grow vegetables, but the difficulty was finding a profitable market. Mr. A. R. Hislop eaid they .must have European hawkers as well as vendors in shops. Mr. Meroier said this matter had not been overlooked. The European sellers would look to their own interests, and if the soheme was started hawkers would no doubt be sent ont at onoe. The Chairman said they would have to build up a market gradually, and make sure of selling what they produced. The Chinese oould not be pushed ont at onoe; it must be done gradually. Mr. W. Murdoch moved that the alternative soheme be adopted, and left in the hands of the committee to work out the details. Mr. H. J. Walter seoonded the motion. Mr. A. Collins Baid if possible the publio should be persuaded to pnrohase from Europeans without regard to cheapness. ; The motion was then put and oarried. As regards the petition presented by the Chinese to Parliament, Mr. Hindmarsh thought the statement made as to the right under .treaty of the Chinese to settle and

trade in any colony or dependency of Groat Britain was inoorreot. j Mr. Meroier moved that a countnr-pctition to that of the Chinese Bbould bo drawn np 1 and presented to Parliament. ( Mr. W. Jones Ecoonded tbo motion. The Chairman said tho members of tho House were familiar enough with the wishes of the oommunity that the poll-tax should be increased, and therefore the petition was unnecessary. , The motion was agreed to, and it was left ■ to the General Committee, with Mr. Hind- ( marsh, to draw up the petition. ■ The election of President and Vice-Presi- , dent was further postponed, as replies had not been received from the gentlemen who ■ had been asked to accept the offices. _ ■ Mr. Hislop recommended the committee to { enrol as many European shopkeepers as possible members of the League. He deplored the absence of so many from the meetings of the League. On the motion of Mr. A. Collins, Mrs. Kitchen, Misß Lee, and Messrs. Collins and Murdoch were appointed a Finanoe Committee, and Mrs. Cole was added to the General Committee. Votes of thanks were passed to the press, the Women's Political Leagne for the use of the room, and the Chairman, and the meeting adjourned for a week.