TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1888. THE INGENIOUS CHINAMAN. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1918, 1 May 1888, Page 2

TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1888. THE INGENIOUS CHINAMAN.

(PUBLISHED DAILY.)

The simple and guileless nature of tbe " Heathen Chinee " is illustrated by the incident imported from Mel. bourne, wLere a number have arrived, the greater portion of whom have presented naturalisation papers which never were issued to them. The " little game " is by no means new. Something of the sort has been carried on in New Zealand for sometime, and attention was drawn to it in the House two or three sessions ago by Mr. Seddon; but we had understood that it was not naturalisation papers,

but exemption papers, that were used. We believe that the practice is that when Chinamen, who have paid the poll tax, desire to re- visit their country, they are granted 'a certificate, which exempts them from payment of a further tax when they return.

But Chinamen seldom return. Others to whom they transfer their exemption certificates come out, and on the strength of these tickets escape t^e payment of the tax, for it is practically impossible for a European Customs official to distinguish between the Ah Chow who has remained at home, and the Ah Sin who presents himself as Ah Chow rejuvenated by a visit to the Flowery Land. The Victorian authorities, however, seem to have identified 105 of the pretenders, and refuse to allow them to land.