THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE GUMDIGGERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11010, 14 March 1899, Page 3

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE GUMDIGGERS.

TO TUX EDITOR. Sir, was glad to see in your issue of February 24 a letter from a fellow gumdigger i:t reference to a speech made by Mr. Burns at the Chamber of Commerce on the Austrian question. There are 7000 Austrians on that narrow peak of land to the north of Auckland, and they are naturally looked upon as a curse, instead of a blessing, by the gumdigger, when they are robbing him "! his just rights as a British subject. About nine months ago I wrote to Mr. Seddon, and told him if something was not done to stop the Antrians from flooding (lie country in ;i short time guindiggiiig would liec, me a thing of the past. 1 received an answer from the noble protector of the working classe-., stating a Hill would lie introduced that session into Parliament to check the growing evil, but the. Bill it. not what Mr. Sctkhm intended it to lie. for it got nearly murdered as it was passing through the House: so it came out in the mangled state we now see it ill. But, had as it is, we can take a little shelter under its weak branches from the storm of oppression that is raging round about us.—l am, etc, (rrupir.Gtii. Kaikohe, March 7.