THE CHINESE QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9078, 12 June 1888, Page 5

THE CHINESE QUESTION.

THE CONFERENCE. ENGLAND NOT REPRESENTED LORD CARNARVON'S VIEWS. [press ASSOCIATION.] , London,, June 10. Replying to Lord Carnarvon, Lord Knutsford said the Government would not appoint a delegate to the Chinese Conference to be held in Australia. In the • discussion on the Chinese question, Lord Carnarvon spoke in the most friendly manner of Australia, sayiug that, if he were an Australian he would never allow his country to become the receptacle for Mongolians. Sydney, June 11. The Chinese in the different colonies are uniting together, in memorialising the Conference which is about to meet here on the subject of the hardships imposed upon them by adverse legislation. CHINA AND THE CHINESE. A lecture on the Chinese question was delivered by Mr. Ah Cheong, the Chinese missionary, at the South Yarra (Melbourne) Presbyterian Church recently. The speaker said great misunderstanding and misconception existed as to China and her people. The constitution of Chinese society proclaimed it to bo a peaceful nation. In the front rank were placed literary men, upon whom devolved the government of the State; next, the farmers, upon whom depended the sustenance of the people; then the mechanics, because their ingenuity was devoted to economise human toil and multiply human resources ; next the merchants, because they only bought and sold, and after barbers came play actors and beggars. The soldiers were left altogether out of count. The pomp and circumstance of glorious war had no attraction for the Chinese. So that although China, with her 400,000,000 people, could undoubtedly conquer the world, she was not at all likely to attempt it. Her energies were devoted to conserving the arts of peace. As to the alleged overcrowding of China, there was still room to breathe, for the population was scarcely at the rate of 82 to the square mile, whereas it was 200 in France, 230 in Germany, 333 in Great Britain, 350 in Holland, and 500 in Belgium. There had neverbeen in Australia at any time more than 60,000 Chinese immigrants,and 150,000 in the Malayan Archipelago, whilst the total number in Further India for many generations had been 1,500,000. Those who immigrated were not paupers, for they paid for their own outfit, and not less than 100 dollars per head for passage. Statistics showed that 14,000,000 dollars had been contributed by Chinese to the wealth of California. There was no general disposition to immigrate. China was far richer than Europe in agricultural and mineral resources. The extent of its coal deposits was estimated at 419,000 square miles, or nearly 21 times that of all the coalfields of Europe. In connection with them was an equally large quantity of iron. Great Britain had been raised to her prominent position by the development of her resources in this direction, and what might not lie before China? She was awakening more and more, and Australia would do well to cultivate her alliance, and there find a market for her wool.