CHEAP CHINESE FRUIT

NZ Truth, Issue 1018, 30 May 1925, Page 8

CHEAP CHINESE FRUIT

The Public's Penny- Wise Policy

Advice to White Fruiterers,

"Tony" writes: — I have only been m this fair city of Wellington for a few months, but m that short time I can-, not but' help being struck by the way the people patronise the Chinese m all their callings — laundering, marketgardening, fruit-selling, etc. Take particularly 1 the fruit trade. Almost every alternate fruit shop is kept by Chinese. In fact, one occasionally finds several together belonging to them. One can't understand people patronising these shops m preference to their own countrymen's, after all that has been written m your paper concerning the Unfair competition o£ the Chinese, and sometimes bad sanitary conditions existing m their back premises. Isn't it about time people woke up and rendered impossible the existence of this sort of thing? Why do they ■persist m patronising Chinese shops the sanitary conditions of which are doubtful? The people who did all the flag-waving when the boys left New Zealand to go and fight their battles for them will not now condescend to patronise the white fruit shops, kept by the brothers, sons, and friends of those gallant Anzacs. I will quote an actual case that has come under my notice. A fine specimen ■of colonial manhood whom we will call Arthur, L heard the call of England to her colonial sons to come and help her m her distress m 1914/ This fine lad became Private L- , and, bidding good-bye to his wife and little ones, answered the call. He came back m 1917, plus a splendid war record, but minus an arm, and weakening m health owing to having been gassed. On account of his physical unfitness he could not resume his pre-war occupation, so he decided to invest his little all m a fruit shop m a Southern town. Everything went on all right for a while, and then, when the steadying effects of peace made themselves apparent, L 's business started to go back. Why? A Chinaman had opened a fruit shop two doors down the street, and because of his totally different living conditions, plus the assistance he received from the Chinese fruit ring, he could sell fruit cheaper than could L , who kept his wife and two little kiddies m decency as befitting a New Zealander. Also, the people forgot. Forgot what? They forgot all that L and his brothers m khaki had done for them and theirs. They forgot everything m their appalling selfishness save that they could get fruit down the street cheaper than poor L could retail it. The result: After struggling m a vain' attempt to overcome" the competition of the yellow man m a pricecutting contest, L— went under. He, his wife, and two little ones lost Where he is to-day and Svhat he is now doing, God knows. This sort of thing is a shameful blot on. New Zealand's fair name. I am inclined to believe from my own observation that at least some of the people who patronise the Chinese fruit shops do so unthinkingly. I also notice that on not a few" -of their shops the Chinese names are written Very inconspicuously, and sometimes not at all. People m the hurry and bustle of city life, when purchasing their fruit, glance at the window display, and, seeing no Chinese name or other means 6f identification, take it for granted that everything is all right; but, when they Avalk m, an Oriental slinks forward' from the end of the shop to serve the prospective customer. Of course, no one likes to appear- foolish and walk out, so the purchase is made — and so the ball rolls. I have observed this repeatedly. What I propose to white fruit shop keepers is this: Have' an" advertisement placed m the immediate, vicinity of your shop to. read something like this: — "Shoppers, stop! Patronise the white man and keep your money m your own country. Support" us. For, we support you. Our Fruit is handled" only with Scrupulous Cleanliness. Give use a Trial."

'I am absolutely certain that anything like the aboye would be a great success, and much .of the trade of the thoughtless shoppers would go to its rightful place, to help swell New Zealand's prosperity, not China's.