THE HARPER CASE—AND OTHER THINGS.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 152, 24 December 1903, Page 7

THE HARPER CASE—AND OTHER THINGS.

TO TUE KDITOH. Sir, — A great deal of furs is being mode about this case,, but I fail 'to sco anything to get excited about. After all, it was no worse than tho "six hatters' cuae," which &umo timo buck disgraced Australia; and m principle it m not worso than our own treatment of aliens. Only a few months ago 1 Haw a troop of flno sturdy men in the local Courthouw beiug put through the ridiculous writing test "in some iunguage of Euix>i)e," in accordance with tuo provisionb of tho Alien Immigration Act — a measure, by tho way, which was hatched by the foreigners' friend, Mr. Chamberlain, and tho colonial Premiers in 1897. Thou think of tho cruel, uncalled for, and unnecessary legislation wo have enacted against tho Anstrians, who hnve even ulroady shown themselves far preferable as colonists to the average gum-seeker, who is periodically "lammed down" by tho shanty-keepers of tho Auckland gumfields. Even tho Premier is now ashamed of our behaviour towards the Austiians, if wo may judge from an apologetio speooh he mode on a recent occa*> sion. Of course, I«m far from approving tho American emigration or navigation laws ; but it ia difficult to understand why any professed protectionist should complain of them. The principles of both have been long sicco oast to the winds in Britain; but now, under "aliases" of "preference" and "retaliation," a gang of oonspiritors aro endeavouring to lorge fiscal fetters for tho one nation on earth where freedom ig honoured othorwiso thaa by outraging it. Our ridiculous Coastwise Trado and Preferential Trade Aetii are here regarded oy professing Liberals ai directions to Britain to follow the path ol political rectitude, not as dictated by Wilberforce, Clarkson, Pitt, Huskiuson, Peol, Cobdon. Bright, and Gladstono, but as dictated by Rhodes nnd Chamberlain ! I uin aware that Mr. Rhodes advocated retaliation as means to onfofuo ultimate freedom of trrtde, but though such morality is quito worthy oi tho mun who planned tho Jameson Raid, it ia not happily that which as yet finds favour with the best men in England. It is strictly followed in America and in tho British colonies, however, with the result that each denounces tho other for doing what it does itself. As for tho results of it in other respocts, I would ask your readers to note- that while Mr. Chamberlain and his friends aro calling out about tho influx of aliens Into Britain, they forgot to toll us that theso very aliens como from highly "protected" countries, such as Germany, or from Italy, where tho peasant cannot drive to market without having to pay tho wretched octroi duties on tho fruit* of his labour. Again, wo hear n great deal about "dumping," thanks to the accommodating cable* manager. But not ft word dops tho Birmingham «ay about tho infamnun attempt to mtiko South Africa the dumping ground of tho scum of Oriental hcatheiidom, which is openly advocated by tho Uorman Peer, Milner, and backed up by tho "fino old English gentlemen" of Paik Lnnc ! — I am, etc., V. J. O'REGAN. Wellington, 17th December,