ASIATICS IN AUSTRALIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14457, 25 February 1909, Page 7

ASIATICS IN AUSTRALIA

ALLEGATIONS OP SMUGGLING. DENIALS BY JAPANESE AND CHINESE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, February 24. Mi' Levien, a Victorian produce agent, states flint he has made inquiries on hc--1:*l!' of the Federal authorities into tho h'ina. fides of a certain Japanese linn doing business in Sydney. IV, B inveM-igations prove, thai, llic business is a blind. It is kept eoii).;r | lv (iovcTiiiwnt money lo lover tho operations of the partners, who are engaged by the Japanese Government in its secret service under consular supervision. The local Japanese Consul ridicules Ihe story, and emph ilieallv denies its truth. (Received Feb. 23'. a!, 9.30 p.m.; Tlis Chinese .merchants rbrack-i'i'e Mr Lcvien's statements as viM and moonshine. Th?y pint out that if coolies were permitted to rome lo Australia indiscriminately it would siuipiv mean taxing heavily those who are already here. The new-comers would not be able to obtain work, and the merchants would have to keep I hem or subscribe money t.> send them bad; (o China. The merchants state that they are prepared if Mr Levien can prove that organisation-s exist for .smuggling Chinese into Australia- to render every assistance to ihe Government- in suppressing them.