ANTI-CHINESE LEAGUE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2579, 3 August 1895, Page 2

ANTI-CHINESE LEAGUE.

-THE PUBLIC MEETING TO-NIGHT. ■ A mooting of tho Anti-Chinoso Loaguo was hold yesterday evening, when thoro was a large attendance of delegates. Mr Allan Ward was voted to the chair. ;■ A letter was road from, tho Minister of Labour acceding to the request of the . committee to deliver an address at the Skating llink on Saturday evening. . Mr J. W. Kelly, M.H.E., wrote expressing his regret at being unable to attend, the meeting, but ho added that ho doubted [the sincerity of tho Wellington people on the anti-Chinese question. Messrs 1 J. Joyce,-J. A. Millar and A. W. Hogg also wrote stating, their inability to bo present at tho meeting, and their sympathy with the cause. Tho sub-committee appointed to make arrangements for the public meeting reported that Councillor P. H.. Eraser had consented to preside, the Mayor being unable to do so through illness. Jupp’a Band would march through the streets on Saturday evening, and also play a few selections outside the Kink prior to the meeting. The committee also thanked the local Unions, especially tho .women’s Unions, for their support.

-..A vote of thanks was passed to. Jupp’s "Band for their kind offer, and the report was adopted.

The Chairman’announced that about £S had been collected toward the preliminary expenses, wbioh would about cover the expense of the public meeting.’ It was announced that the membership fee was Is per annum, aqd n large number of ; membership' cards werp circulated among the delegates from the various unions to dispose of. The proposed objects of the League were submitted by the committee, and in moving their adoption, Mrs Tasker expressed pleasure at the fact that the, co-operation of the Women’s Leagues had.bcen invited. '• The motion was seconded by Mr Brocket. Mrs Player, expressed the' opinion' that the'League must endeavour to enlist the sympathies of the middle-classes, who were the' chief supporters of the Chinese.

Mr A.. Collins saicl no, doijbt they woqld mmt with some inconvenience at ijrst, especially as regarded' the supply of .yegetables, ' f'here ‘-traa no, reason yfhy in time they should i(ot form a kiqd of smalj farm in tfie' suburbs‘ on' yegetables migbt be grbwij'foy the European portion of the population. ’ ” Mr , remarked that in some parts of 'VV'ellingtou European vegetable sellers i}hd been routed by the Chinese, and people ip those districts were forced to deal with the Chinese, They ongbt to provide Some place in the, various parts of Wtiling-ton where vegetables could bo purchased ifrom Huropeans, The Chairman said the matter could be considered by the League after the public meeting, The main object of the League should be : the establishment of market gardens, which would provide work for their unemployed.

Sir said nothing good was ever done without some Eolf-sacrifico. They must refrain from dealing with Chinamen, and make it to bo looked upon as a shameful act to have any dealings with a Chinaman. , Mr T. Hogg pointed out that it was impossible to get vegetables from Europeans all the year round. It would, however, be easy, to get subscriptions towards forming some kind of market garden, as he knew several influential'people in Wellington who would support the project. Mr A. Collins'moved' that one of the objects of the League be the obtaining of a plot of land at any suitable place for a Inafkeitgaj-den". ‘ ■ u :. rTlio njotion was seconded by hjr Flanagan, and carried. . ’• . ’• yir T-Hogg said he had received a great amount of support in canvassing for the League, and he moved a hearty vote of .thanks to all subscribers. • This was seconded by Mr Warner, and I carried, I

Hearty votes of thanks were passed to the Women’s Social and Political League for the use of the room in the Exchange Buildings, to the Trades Council for the use of their hall on previous occasions, and to the committee who had carried out the arrangements for the public mooting. Mr J. F. Mercier said he had been requested by the Ne ,v Zealand Workers’ Union to represent v.hom;on the’ AntiChinese League. Mr W. J. Ballinger (Christchurch) impressed upon the League the necessity of watching the Chinese in regard to the cabinetmaking industry. • The Chairman expressed regret that no cabinetmakers were present. Mr Ballinger said there was a person travelling in Now Zealand in the interests of a wealthy Chinese""furniture manufacturing firm in Melbourne. ■ The meeting passed a vote of thanks to the press and to the chairman, and then adjourned till Wednesday in next week.