THE CHINESE AT BOUND HILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 17

THE CHINESE AT BOUND HILL.

It will be remembered that at Kumars the Premier read telegrams from Mr-Kelly, M.HJR., to confirm the oimrge he had made against Sir R. Stoat .aboab the .employment; of Caiiwieafc the - Bound Hill Blntcing Company's works. This has brought Mr Lee, tha manager of the company, into the field, and in a letter, in the Southland Times h« states that, instead of six being employed at the time the Hoa. Mr C&dmitu visited fcha mice, there ware only two, and he clinches ih by submitting the company's paysheet for the period A» to tbe Hon. Mr Cadmoti'a statement) that the allegation madg% one of the deputation was not challeuged, Mr Lee s»yi he emphatically denied the allegation, and was told by the deputation to shut his month, betides teing, threatened with violence. Further, he took Mr Gordon, who was with the Minister, to the office, and laid the wojpts sheet before him. As h& understood Mr Gordon would inform the Minister of the 1 foots of the cose, he took no farther notice of the matter. Mr Lee further explain* that the chief reason why a few Chinese were emplajwd from time to time- was to work' off tbeirdeb&to the. company for water renta which they had been unable to pay. When' that debt was worked' off tho Chinese were discharged with one exception, and that man has since been emplyed on the Ot&go Ceatral railway, and is now employed by 1 Buroneans' at Bound- Hill. Mr Lee says this man was got rid of wfian Mr J. White intimated that he would sooner lose the water rent* -than employ the men. Mr Kelly, M.H.R., having shifted his ground by staking that he referred to a visit! made at as earlier period', Mr Let in a second letter shows Mist four, andnofr six as stated* were working off their rente at the earlier date. As a porting shot Mr Lee says that aonia member* of the deputation, which waited on Mr Cadman have since, then, fcheea■rives employed some of tha Chinamen that were- in tiie company's employ at Ifn rimf of the Minis bar's visit.