THE PORT CHALMERS LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Evening Star, Issue 7469, 13 March 1888, Page 4

THE PORT CHALMERS LICENSING COMMITTEE.

THE DEFENCELESS CHINESE. TO THK EDITOR. Sir, -In this enlightened community of ours, any one- who takes a slight interest iu the management of the proceedings of the Tolice Court cannot fail to observe that the poor Mongolian seldom, if ever, gets justice at the hands of the " great unpaid.' On many occasions poor "John" has been assailed by the larrikin element, and v*ry often presents a repulsive figure after being mauled and beaten by them. Mot long ago I was witness to one of these assaults, where the poor fellow was attacked by three or four hobbledehoys, and beaten so severely that the blood flowed profusely from his face, and he was with difficulty able to walk away. This happened in George street one Sunday In broad daylight. The same thing will occur bo long as these larrikins are dealt with so leniently, the verdicts of the Police Court being invariably against John. The latest instance of our much-vaunted "British fair play" occurred last Friday afternoon. It happened thus: A Celestial coming down King street hailed a tram ; the driver pulled up, and John deposited his basket and got on to the platform with the driver. The over-zealous conductor immediately rushed through tho tram and ordered John in a bullying voice to clear off. The Chinaman apparently thought that the conductor objected to him and his baskets travelling for a threepenny fare, and said "Me payee threepence for my baskets " But his offer was met with a refusal on the part of the conductor, and the poor fellow had to get off the platform and carry his basket—probably to Caversham or St. Kilda. You can. Mr Editor, give my name to anyone who doubts this assertion, and I will prove it to his satisfaction.—l am. etc., G.W.C. Dunedin, March 12.