CHINESE LABOUR FOR THE BAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 30

CHINESE LABOUR FOR THE BAND.

A PROTEST FROM WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, February 6.

About 400 persons attended a public mM*iag held to-day to protest against the introduction of Chincso labour to the Rand mines. The Mayor presided, and the Premier, Sir Joseph Ward, and the Hon. Messrs M'Gowan and T. Kennedy Macdonald were present. The Premier, m seconding a resolution condcmnuig tho proposal, said it was never contemplated thpt ths graves of their fallen braves would be desperated m such a manner. This was an I^iperial question, and the colonies had a right, after sending their sons to war in. the Tran^varJ, to express their opinions and protest against the introduction of Chinese. The Bruieh Government was breaking faith, with the Boers, who would have fought to the last man if they believed such a move was contemplated. He approved of a referendum by the people of the Transvaal, and denounced the proposal as iniquitous and ar> attempt to introduce " veiled slavery." Speeches were also made by the Hon. Kennedy Macdonald, Messrs Kauqhton (preeident Trados Council), M'Taviah (just returned from South Africa). O'Regan, and Hampton. Resolutions were carried with acclamation denouncing tho introduction of Chinese, and commending the action of the Premier and Wellington pre*3. The Chief Justice sent a letter sympathising with the objectj of the meeting.

February 7. Mr Seddon, in the course of his spec-eh, said that in the past they had met in the same pl--.ee to bid" farewell to the brightest and noblest of their pons, and well nacS they done their duty. Was it ever contemplated for a moment that they should meet again there to protect against hordes of Asiatic* l->eing sent into South Africa to work the mines there and to take tho place of our own race' No one could possibly have contemplated that such desecration of tho graves o r our fallen braves would take p"ace. We did not send our sons to fight for the Rand mine-owners in. order that" they might be abl<- to make 50 per cent profit instead of tho 25 they were able to make with white tobour. Was this insult to he heaped upon our flag? Ho felt that the British Gove^nmeDt was break-

iag faith ivith tin- Jjocrs. Had the conoiticns concerning th-c aJ:r.i-=ion of Ch.'ncse bean put be-for-e th& Be cr£, they would bay& fought until not a man v, a.s left. It was no us? th& Erit^h Governs evJ attempting to shirk its responsibility. Tho present Government of the Transvaal smriply consisted of nominees. There bad been a recognition of the mine-owners in making these nominations, and men who would have repreeente-d the neoplo had boen excluded. If this iniquity \\ ere permitted, South Africa would be left to mine-owners, Boers, and Chinese.