THE CHINESE AND THE UNEMPLOYED.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10652, 13 May 1895, Page 3

THE CHINESE AND THE UNEMPLOYED.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —I ehould like to offer a few suggestions rcßtieoting the above important questions, in hope that others more able will carry on the agitation to a successful issue. Every European in the colony should do his level best to oust tho Chinamen. Hero are they scooping in too money daily, while our unemployed stasia, at the street corners, with their hands in their pockets, looking at them. Ao far aa I can gather, there are from to thirty Chinamen’s carts ca the Christchurch streets with vegetables, and their takings average from £lO to £l6 per week each cart. How much of this money ever comeo into circulation again ? Now, I suppose, as Johnny paid poll-tax to land in the colony, it would not ba right to turn him out, but if Government can take a man’s freehold by paying the value of it, why not take the Chinamen’s leasehold ? Fay them for their crops—not the homes, carts, tools, &c., they can sell them after —and rclet the gardens to Europeans. Thia would provide work for something like two hundred men, and their earnings would all he spent here again. Then, if the City Council would build a fruit and vegetable market and prohibit market gardeners’ carta from hawking round the streets, that would make an opening for a dozen or more good greengrocers’ shops. Those would require one or two bauds each to solicit orders, deliver goods, &0., and several would be required for tho market as collectors, watchmen and porters.—l sm, &c., LATE COYENT GARDEN GROWER.