A WORD FOR THE SEAFARING CHINAMAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14167, 15 September 1906, Page 11

A WORD FOR THE SEAFARING CHINAMAN.

Last Sunday, the Chinese members of the crew of the s.s. Xweeddale were entertained at the Port Chalmers Sailors’ Rest by Mr A. R. Falconer and his associates in the work of the Seamen’s Mission. Captain" Milne, the master of the, steamer, and the chief engineer, Mr Nairn, were so appreciative of the kindness shown their men that they called upon the shipping reporter of the_ “Otago Daily Times ” to express their thanks. Incidentally (says the “ Daily Times ’’) Captain Milne made some remarks which afford food for thought. Mr Nairn had nothing but praise for hie men.. 1 The difference in the treatment meted out to the latter by the Customs authorities at Timaru and Port Chalmers was referred to. “In Timaru,” said Captain Milne, “a Customs official said to me in the most peremptory manner, ‘ I forbid you to allow those,Chinese to go ashore during your stay in Timaru,’ and reminded me of the penalty I was likely to incur if I did so. On a subsequent occasion I was again interrupted whilst entertaining some friends on board, only to be told something to the same effect. On arrival at Port Chalmers, however, I was agreeably surprised to be told by a gentleman of whom I inquired that my ‘ men would be at liberty to go ashore whenever they liked,’ and on Sunday they went to the Sailors’ Rest and were made as welcome as flowers in May. The men were naturally delighted, because they are very appreciative of any kindness shown them, and I was naturally very pleased myself, for many reasons.”—AVer© you not afraid that some of them would forget to return to the ship?—“ Not at all. Their word is their bond. If they want to go ashore I ask what time they will return, and if not back before the time stated you will see them coming up the gangway just as the clock strikes the hour. I have had fifteen years’ experience with Chinese, and they have never yet deceived me or broken a promise. When onoe a Chinaman says ‘ Can do,’ you can rest easy in. your mind. Whatever obligation is implied he will scrupulously carry out to the letter.” Mr Nairn, the chief engineer, was equally enthusiastic, and fully endorsed everything which had been said by Captain Milne. He resented the w"ay in which hia men had been treated by the Customs authorities in Timaru, which, he said, compared most unfavourably with the nice way in which the Customs authorities and some of the citizens of Port Chalmers had treated them. He said ho was quite unable to understand the attitude adopted at Timaru. His men “ were highly intelligent educated Hong Kong men, and as such were entitled to bettor treatment, even if our laws regarded them as aliens. They are splendid workers, always cheerful and obedient, and I have only to give an

order to have it executed promptly and in a thoroughly workmanlike way.” Mr Nairn related instances in support of his contention that the Chinese, when once understood compared most favourably with white men oil hoard a vessel. As evidence of their appreciation of the Chinee© member® of their crew, both Captain Milne and Mir Nairn said they would leave the- Tweeddale to-morrow if the Chinese were taken off the vessel. “We don’t have them because they are’cheap, as most people imagine,”- said the captain. ‘ They are paid th© same wages as Europeans, and I think I have made it plain to you why we like them so- well. They never swear, grumble, or get drunk, and in th© matter of work will do all that any reasonable man has a right to; expect,”