THE CHOW QUESTION.

NZ Truth, Issue 139, 15 February 1908, Page 5

THE CHOW QUESTION.

IGNORANCE NOT EXCUSEABLE. How the Mongol Defies the Law. Magistrate Riddell's Sensible Sentiments. This patriotic newspaper would control its natural antipathy to the leprous-souled yellow alien if the unspeakable Asiatic horror would conform to the most urgent laws of civilisation, but when we find the Eastern pest "travelling" upon his alleged ignorance to get ahead), of industrious New Zeaianders, any generosity m. sentiment possessed by "Truth" retires before forgivable indignation. For a considerable time past the Chows of Wellington, or stich portion of them as are able to w.ork the dodge, have transgressed m that, being the pecupiers of factories (to use the excessively formal language of the Courts), they "did fail to keep a record showing the names of the persons employed and the kind of Work of, and the wages paid to, each person." An ordinary white common person has to pay union wages., he has to give his employees the holidays prescribed by law, , the hours of labor are minutely laid down for his observance; and he is boxed m at every turn by exacting requirements. On the other hand the Inspector enters the Mongolian premises and calls for the' books; One Lung, oi the ingratiating smile,-, has no oooks ; he has never been to school ; he doesn't know what books are. The diddled inspector points out an industrious ironer, who spits on the shirt cuff, and laboriousiv shines the same with the blunt protuberance of the implement. •"H'm," says the inspect-

or, ":how much do you give him aj week? Do you give him a half-holi- | day ?" It takes One Lung or Ah Sin ] or Low Lee a long. time to absorb ] this query, then with a sudden hurst of inspiration he remarks, "Oh, him no wages ; him partner."- Members of a firm are not affected by the Act. The beastly Oriental cunning is here manifested. As a matter of tacit all of the actual grafters amongst the pig-tails are slaves imported by a wealthy Chinese boss, who parts up bheir £100 v poll-tax, and then gets them to work out their salvation AT NOTHING A WEEK and found. In. this country of unions and arbitration and conciliation 'that sort of thing shouldn't be possiblp,'l but by establishing a mythical, partnership the future potential owners of God's Owns Country dodge all that and tell the law-enforcers to do something; unpleasant. Two of Lionel Terry's enemies named Pon Lee and Jim Lee h,ave been working this game' for all it is worth m their Wellington laundry, and pleaded the customary ignorance m the Magistrate's Court. Lawyer Blair appeared for them, and submitted that the position was that they hadn't kept proper books m English. Counsel suggested that the unfortunate aliens shouldn't be penalised far keeping their books m Chinese, "^ind he remarked that he had himself submitted sample books m English for his clients to keep, /but' without avail. Magistrate Riddell took an. extremely sensible view of the casfi when he remarked that; the poll-tax- dodgers entered into competition with Europeans, and they must comply with the regulations imposed without favor on both. It didn't matter if the yellow persons were ignorant of the English language and usages— ■ they should employ someone who had knowledge of the Fnglish language, i Fined, ,10s and costs 7s,