ANTI-CHINESE LEAGUE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 33

ANTI-CHINESE LEAGUE.

A meeting of tho Auti-Chiuese League was held last week in the Exchange Building, Mr A. Collins in the chair. Tho secretary (Mr A. Orr) reported that a deputation had waited on the Mayor with reference to establishing a city market, when he expressed himself in favour of tho market proposed hy the Anti-Chinese League, and would use all his influence in establishing it. However, when the matter had come before the Council the Mayor had voted against it. This, Mr Orr said, was making a tool of the League. Mr Collins said tho question had come up before the Council three times, and each time tho Mayor had given his vote against it. The League had better give up tho idea of getting a city market, and establish two or three places in Wellington for the distribution of the produce of the Hutt farmers in the city. Mr Orr moved, and it was seconded by Mrs Tasker and carried, “ That the action of tho Mayor with reference to tho city market is a direct insult to tho AntiChinese League.” With reference to a letter that had been published in tho New Zealand Times by Mr Moore, of Johnsonville, offering to give land to the League for the establishing of a vegetable garden, Mr Orr said that, accompanied by Mrs Tasker and Miss Lee, he visited tho land, which is about threequarters of a mile from Johnsonville on the city [side. About 111 acres were in crop last year and 27 acres are in bush. He thought, however, that the land was unsuited for vegetable growing. Mr Moore, jun., who was present, said that ho had roceived oilers for the lease of tho land from tho Chinese. lie was of opinion that tho land would, in a short timo, pay if it was cultivated Manure of courso would have to be used. Other farmers wore of this opinion. It any gentleman felt inclined to go in witli him and cultivate the land, ho would be prepared to spend a largo sum of money in testing tho land. A committee was set up to confer with Mr Moore and to report at next meeting. Mr Haggen read an extract from a magazine showing to what profit and on what principles vegotablo farms are worked in Detroit.

Mr Orr said that the Market Gardeners’ Association of Christchurch wore going to establish two shops in Wellington to compote against tho Chinamen. Mr Orr said that thoro were only two Chinese siiops in Christchurch. The people in that city would not buy from Chineso. A gentleman from Christchurch said that tho people there would not buy from Chinese, but for all that all the vegetables camo indirectly from the Chinese. Mr Murdock said that Europeans would not buy from Europeans. He knew of a man who bad brought samples of apples from Foilding, and could not get orders for them at Id per lb. Mrs Tasker, speaking on the question of Chinese as immigrants, said that a promiment Wellington lady had slated that she thought Chinese were desirable immigrants, and that they were peaceful, law-abiding and sober people. Mrs Tasker denied this, and hoped that the people would only vote

at election timo for those who were in favour of tho Undesirable Immigrants Bill.

Tho following motion, proposed by Mrs Livermore, seconded by Mr Moore, was carried “ That the statements made hy Lady Stout at tho Women’s Convention were indiscreet and contrary to facts.”

On the motion of the secretary, it was decided to write to the City Council drawing attention to the fact that at certain hours of tho day largo numbers of Chineso dealers’ carts were allowed to stand in Taranaki, Frederick and Haining streets for a considerable length of time, to tho detriment of traffic.

A long discussion took place on tho Undesirable Immigrants Bill, and votes of thanks to the chairman and to tho press concluded tho meeting.