A PETITION FROM THE CHINESE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9083, 18 June 1888, Page 11

A PETITION FROM THE CHINESE.

Acting under the instructions of the Chinese residents in Auckland, Dr. Laishley has drawn up a petition to Parliament protesting against the proposed anti-Chinese legislation. The reasons adduced in support of the petition are twelve in number. The petition states that the Chinese came here relying on the treaties between Great Britain and China, and until these are repealed the Legislature of this colony cannot enact the Bill. Even if they could do so, it would be gravely unjust if sufficient notice of the Bill was not given to the Chinese Government and people. The Chinese, so says the petition, are much less immoral than the British, and have always been law-abiding, peaceloving, industrious, and frugal. The petitioners then boldly aver that every encouragement should be given to promote the immigration of Chinamen, as the great wants of the colony are skilful tillers of the soil and cheap labour to enable capitalists to profitably invest in various industrial pursuits. For such work the Chinese are specially qualified., "if not prepared to work on their own account, are always willing to labour at exceptionally low wages." The real cause of the agitation, so the petition says, is a fear that wages would fall, a result which the petitioners " venture to respectfully submit in the interests of the colony should be certainly welcomed —not dreaded." They then deny that they earn their money here and spend it in China, except in rare cases ; and assert that the Brinish in China do that. The opium smoking argument is met in the usual way by saying that the British forced it on China, anj} they also point out that the Australian colonies derive "a very large revenue from the importation thereof." On these grounds the petitioners ask for the repeal of all restrictive legislation, and the granting of every facility for the arrival and residence here of Chinese on equal terms with those enjoyed by the British. Upon being signed the petition was forwarded to Wellington.