SMUGGLING CHINESE INTO AUSTRALIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 17 September 1909, Page 1

SMUGGLING CHINESE INTO AUSTRALIA.

It has-been known for a considerable time that. Hong Kong is the horne l of a gang of;men who make it a business to smuggle/ men . into America and • Australia. Of/late -A.utralia has had several experiences of the desperate* ruses adopted to get. the men in according to con- " tract, and despite the r vigikrice ; of the authorities tither plans are likely to be tried Ine average coolie who makes hii'mind up to go to .Australia" will risk 'the trials necessary- to. get) there, and if he succeeds so much the better. If he doesn't he has an ocean.trip 4nd several mbnths in gaol when "he" gits', back » 'sojonrtt which does riot trouble Mm much. So far' the police have been UhibJe to obtain/eviderice suf- .. ficient tb-'enable'them-tqCmake convictions'., and. so; break .fdSwn ""the "practice of smuggling;, though once or iitiise, they, have^been new.it. -For Instance the "other day. at Hong Kong one • Chinaman -sued anotMer!.foF6CK) dollars, which he alleged ■ were due -6n> a - promissory ' note the or- . igii^s^S'&ilngmoney lent intheordinarj^ojifßfrVof :<baidnM^^^ ■ The plaintiff's •itory;.was : £la;isible until it was knocked 'ehdwJßo'"''wn"tn' ; the"3efendant got into the ; box !-and 5: ;. Produced two contracts- for smuggling; men into Australia.- He dec-, fared- tie money was the balance due on those contracts:- He had^already_<* paid some 500 dollars to "get two' men -in,' and the balance was to be paid when the men got' to AmeSoa. The.men had not got -there j and he declined to pay. The Magistrate -Believed defendant, and non--suited, plaintiff but. the evidence, did not give ■ the "police much. to. work oh; 'Sshey could" not find out- if the ; mem had lef fc. jthe colony-i-that is. the two coolies toJjo smuggled into the -States— «) they \vero baffled, though they?a_re keeping a sniart> eye^ on the!' parties -] in the : promissory -'. note caße./A;fewr"days after this- another • case came -up rat' Hong Kong havihe direct interest, for. Australia pairticttlarfy the Cpmmon'wfiaJthj Hfrng .Etafce'd'.ttiat he inquired 'on behalf 'of plaintiff as to tho . rates on "the-Cranley for : getting men smuggled through,: and he ascertained" 'that it*woiiM take; 600' dollars- 'a' head, the fireman..- and- iEo ' steward -to ; .tSke charge ;p£ : : the - men tor . .-600; dollar^ a head.- Skime deal ,\yas made', whereby an advance" was' made to the head fireman^ ■■. of ' 6oo. dollars, •■' Promissory] notes were, made out : ip Tegard.tp the.sixjnen^whom it was •desired to', ship, the arrangement being that defendant was- to collect ;the money from.-. plaintiff qir receipt of : a letter f rofn tho pMensers thit they had ■: landed in jASstralia; , Defendant went on board and^eaw the passengers off, and subsequently., he received "two envelopes f roni; A'nstraiia- saying inatHhe- coolies had'i landed r (t6 here is one batch the" customs failed to.trapl- He then went_ to collect the : ;money frpm'the. . plaintiff, ■ but the' latter held him of f saying that -.- he had not received- any notification from Australia. In.cross. examination tho witness started thathe did'not-'see.or know that it was illegal to getpassengera to Australia in that -way," but the "question waa'-npt pursued ..further. "Plaintiff got judgment: for }O.GC . dollars and costs and the defendant whoTn^de-a-obunter - "claim' for 1850 dollars- was ; . lion-suited: This public con*e.«Rion of smuggling,- a-j;-';; dacions in . itself shtf'ild, surely; giy« the police clue's to work.onV-'and.'if they art as Brharfc'- as-'they . beli'ey^ 'fh'emselvca' to, be tho leaders' of thjfl.iind ,of jfiusiness Would'.sbpn be. put out of the road;: and ;.- thje ■ Cominonfwealth saved .dopsideriWe' annoyance andvexr^hse: r■- '' \ ".' ;.';: ■ ••....