THE ALIEN QUESTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7319, 24 December 1910, Page 6

THE ALIEN QUESTION

PEAKE TALE WITH THE CHINESE CONSUL-G KNDRAL. EXCLUSION ARGUMENTS ANSWERED. AS IMPORTANT SUGGESTION. Following xip the complaint of a ChiriGAo visitor to N'• v.* Zealand regarding hi* treatment, hy tlv& Custom* authorities who administer the Immigration Kc riction Act in Wellington, a '•gov.- Zealand Times" representative sought tho opinion, of the Chinese Con-siil-Goneral for New Zealand, Mr YungISaug Hwang, and had the privilege of dismissing 1 quite frankly tho whole question of racial distinction practised in British colonics, Now Zealand the number. First, in regard to Mr Quo ns Tart’s ■complaint, tho Consul had not received any information except that conveyed in yesterday*? "Times." Ho suggested that mo who know so much of colonial custom* as Mr Quong Tart would not be likely to complain of indignities unless ho had had to submit to them. f T notice that this week five languages were spoken by the passengers of tho steamer Horn Sydney," remarked .VI p Ilwung. r T suppose .fapaxre.se was included, bat I saw nothing to indicate that thoro was a restriction of any kind ;mpoeod upon that gentleman after he passed tho educational test. Air Quong Tart is of European extraction, partly, therefore he could pass the English tost easily. Why was there the least dilficnlty? Xt seems to me there is no consistency in the administration of the liumigmbon R-etftriiction. Act." THE LATEST AMENDMENT.

"Yes, I am glnd to see the recent amendment of the law which enables “hinoao other than labourers, such as merchants, tourists, and students to com, hero without being subjected to tho treatment prescribed by the Immigration Restriction Act. The classes other than labourers can enter without undergoing the educational test, paying tho £IOO poll tax, or submitting to Uavo their finger prints taken. 1 am •glad of that small "relief, but it does not give entire satisfaction. Our Gov.ommeirt asked mo to approach the New Zealand Government to abolish the finger print requirement for the labourers, bat they would not do that." “THE GREATEST INDIGNITY."

The interviewer pointed out that to jbe eye of the average European, all Chinese of the same build look alike, and cannot bo identified by photographs. "What alternative have you to sug-S-'-st?" was the question he prut to Mr wang. “The taking of finger prints, a _ practice which originated in China, is the greatest indignity to which we can subject our criminals," replied Mr Hwang. “We do not want identification .of any sort. Wo understand that when wo welcome you to oar shores, we expect to be welcomed, also. If you don't want labourers to come here, prohibit them jnbirely by a friendly agreement with the Chinese Government.”

PROHIBIT LABOURERS ENTIRELY. “ What consideration would ‘ the Chinese Government require if New Zealand desired such an arrangement?" asked the interviewer. “You could giro nothing (hat would l>e of value to us, but if you _say ‘ the coming of Chinese labourers to New, Zealand doos harm to you, ask the Chinese Government to stop them, and the oarti.idorution you should allow us must be that you will welcome all other classes • to your shores. Whether that can be done orr not 1 cannot say as Consul, . but it seems more reasonable than im-

posing a poll-tax and the disgraceful criminal indignity of th#- finger print. Even the American Restriction Act does not impose it." ARGUMENTS AGAINST CHINESE. Th n Hie interviewer brought up the Mgwnt'iiis which weigh.heavily in determining lire exclusion of Asiatics from lie Australasian colonies. The low stan-

dard living on the part of Chinese lab,, .re, and their ability to tremendously undercut their white rivals was •the first point. " I don't agree with all that is said

about the low standard of living,” was the reply. " Oar labourers who are here want to save as much as they can. That -does not moan that they do not lire as well as your labourers. Certainly they do not go to the theatre, but their living routo as much,and often more, than the European labourer, because tboir foodistuff is mostly received from China, and has to pay duty. This is my experience. When I want to buy a Chinese ham I have to pay twice as much as for a local oaa. Then take, for example, rice, the ■most prominent item on the Chinese table. Is it not much dearer than wheat? Most Chinese have fowls once or twice a week. Are they cheaper than the labourer?)’ diet?" WHY THEY SAVE. "■Tee, they save, and for what purpose.?" asked the interviewer, who found the Consul-General quite willing to Tisteix to tie cose for the European worker, and meet his arguments. "They save because they have to pay a poll-tax of JBIOO to get into New Zealand, and that sum is a great deal to a labourer. How many English immigrants of the labouring class could afford to give away <£loo before they make a ■xingie penny?" They save to take their savings out of the country, except the poll-tax, remarked the “ Tunes " representative., "That is a very natural thing for every foreigner to do," replied the Consul. " Tor example, in China, many Europeans of all dosses make plenty of money, but few settle in China. I have known quite a number, who have been my personal friends, who took their money to England, and built a mansion there to hive in. If our people find that they are treated in a thoroughly friendly manner, and there is not that prejudice which exists against them among a certain class in tide country, more would settle here." As for the desire to bo buried„in the land of his fathers, which takes many Chinese out of New Zealand, the Consul said that this is an idea which has its origin in ignorance and superstition, and is losing acceptance. THE WAGES QUESTION. Your countrymen badly undercut the European in regard to wages, remarked the interviewer. "Except on the West Coast, whore there are a few who work for less than Europeans, our labourers get as much as yours," was the unexpected answer. "The gardener, according to New Zealand custom,'gets about Ss a day, and the lowestpaid Chinese gets 6s or 7s. These are employed by Europeans, not by Chinese, and were they to ask for the same ns English employees they would lose the work, for they are a little slower, and, all things being equal, the white employer gives preference to the white labourer. In ‘Wellington the Chinese laundry employees got 80s per week and their keep. New arrivals get 25s until they gain experience. The man of experience gets 80s a week and his board

and lodging, not less. Chinese gardeners who employ Chines© as assistants usually pay them by the term or the year. The men get at the rate of 25s to 80s per week and their keep. The money is available for them when, they want to Band it to their own country, and what they do not want at the time is left in the care of their employer. Sometimes, if the garden does not prosper, they wait nntfl the next season for the money. They haveveryfew expenses, for they need not care for appearance, living i'n the country, their only requirements bc-ing^baecoyand-^dothes.-'-