INVASION FEARED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 15 December 1939, Page 4

INVASION FEARED

FRUIT RETAILING BUSINESS CHINESE AT CHRISTCHURCH [United Press Association] CHRISTCHURCH, 14th December. Fear of a Chinese invasion into the retail fruit business is haunting established retailers in Christchurch. Unconfirmed reports indicate that a Chinese syndicate has been formed in Auckland for the purpose of establishing a chain of 90 shops throughout New Zealand, and that Christchurch is 1o he the chief centre of invasion. In Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin Chinese already have more or less a monopoly of the retail fruit business. Christchurch being the only centre where Europeans have been able to maintain control. Resentment at the opening of three new Chinese shops was openly expressed by some retailers in one auction room this week when it was alleged that they refused to buy unless an assurance was given by the broker Hat further supplies of green bananas would not be given to one of these new shops. The boycott threat, It is reported. achieved its end. Officials of the Retailers’ Association state that they have no knowledge of such action being taken. The fact that greater numbers of Chinese arrived in New Zealand curing the past six months than ever Hore is also causing European retailers c-rrid-erable concern. Established Chinese retailers are also reported to be somewhat perturbed. According to the Abstract of Statistics, the arrivals in six months to the end of October exceeded the departures by 410.