THE CHINESE QUESTION.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 52, 29 August 1895, Page 2

THE CHINESE QUESTION.

A meeting of tbe fruit and vegetable dealers, grocers, &0., interested in the Chinese question was hold in the Exohange HaU last night— Mr. Allan Ward, President of the Trades Council, in the chair. . The Chairman said that several schemes had been formulated with regard to growing and buying produce by Europeans, but had been fonnd to be impracticable. It was now proposed to organise the Hutt farmers and the fruiterers and dealers in this oity, so that the latter body could buy vegetables, &0., solely from the farmers, who on their part would furnish produce to none bnt Europeans Mr. Swinnard said that he personally would be only too glad to fall in with the scheme outlined by tho Chairman, _ and stigmatised several of the letterß appearing in the papers on the Chinese question as misleading and false. The shopkeepers should support those of their own nation. Another shopkeeper, while expressing himself as quite ready to deal with only European growers of produce, spoke of the extortionate chargos made by Europeans for vegetables as compared with the Chinese gardeners. Several other speakers having expressed their viewß, Mr. J. F. Mercier stated that if the frnitorers and grocers did not snpport the League and band together to doal with the farmers, the members ot tho League would fight the matter out themselves, aud start 00-operative stores in opDosition not only to tho Chinese, but also to tho Knropoan shopkeepers. He was surprised at tbe look of enthusiasm shojdl by the shopkeepers present, whioh he attributed to jealousy. At their League meatingß fruiterers were conspiououß by their absence. Mr. A. Collins said that if the fruiterers wished to compete with the Chinese they would have to run an organisation on similar lines to thoae of the trade unions. The unions would support frnitercrs, &0., by every means in their power if such a polioy were carried ont. If the looal dealers did not support tbe League, the latter was prepared in a fortnight's time to rush a snpply of vegetables into the looal market by opening up co-operative stores. The Chairman having invited resolutions on the subject, and none being forthcoming, it was decided to adjourn the meeting until Monday ovening to receive a report as to the progress made at the meeting with Hutt farmers on Saturday night. A meeting of the Anti-Chinese League was afterwards held, Mr. Ward in the ohair. A letter was read from the Premier stating that he did not think it was proper that he should accept the office of Patron. The Chairmanreported that the Committee had deoided that a publio meeting should be held at the Hntt on Saturday night, and that Dr. Newman and other publio men bad agreed to speak. He also stated that the sub-committee had had satisfactory interviews with reference to the supply of vegetables. Mr. J. Meroier proposed the adoption of the report. This was Beoonded by Mr. J. M. Walter, and agreed to. A letter from Mr. Poingdestre addressed to the Chairman, giving a description of the Chinese quarters in California and British Columbia, was read, and it was deoided to ask the Editor of the Post to publish it. Mr. Meroier drew attention to the complaint about the Chinese monopolising the furniture trade in Melbourne, and urged the League to take some action in the matter. He also pointed out that the Ohinese in I Wellington had recently subßoribed towards | looal institutions, and said he believed the money was given as a matter of policy, so as to ourry favonr with a certain seotion of the European population. If ihe League did not look ont the Chinese would monopolise a great many trades. He proposed—" That this League views with alarm the monopoly of tho furniture trade in Australia by Chinese, and reqnests the Government, to revise the tariff in the direotion of increasing the duty on furniture, and further hopes that the £100 poll-tax will become law forthwith, to obviate the deplorable state of affairs existing in the sister colonies." Miss Lee seconded tho motion. Mr. W. Murdooh said that a great deal' of furniture made by Chinese in Australia was being sold in New Zealand at prioes j very mnoh below what the artioles oonld be manufactured for in this colony. ' Mr. Nprwell said that if the motion was passed it was probable that many people would be alarmed at the prospeot of ion extra duty on furniture. At the suggestion of Mr. J. M. Walter the motion was amended so as to read that the increased tax should be only on furniture ascertained to have been mode by Chinese. The motion as amended was agreed to. It was deoided to ask Sir Robert Stont to become Patron, Mr. Joseph Myers Preßident, and Messrs. 0. T. Tatum and W. Higginbottom Yioe-Presidents. Mr. F. Wilson addressed the meeting, stating that a Chinaman had obtained the lease of the block at the oorner of MulgraveBtreet and Thorndon-quay in whioh his (the speaker s) business was carried on. He warned the League that unless it bestirred itself tha Chinese would thrust Europeans ont of many avenues of employment. Proposals for the establishment of a weekly paper to be oalled "The Anti-Chinaman 6 were made by Mr. James Mills, and were referred to the committee for a report. On the motion of Mr. J. M. Walter, seconded by Mrs. Forbes, it was deoided that the Chairman, with Mrs. Tasker and Messrs. A. H. Hindmarsh and J. F. Meroier, should present to the Speaker of the Upper Honse the counter-petition in answer to fiat lately forwarded by tho looal Chinese. The queation of allowing the fruiterers to plaoe in their windows a oard with the words " Patronised by the Anti-Chinese Leagne " was deferred until next meeting. It was deoided that a sub-oommittee to be appointed by the General Committee should attend the meeting of fruiterers on Monday and state the result of the interview with the Hutt fanners.