THE OPIUM CASES

Southland Times, Issue 17348, 20 May 1913, Page 5

THE OPIUM CASES

PROTEST AND EXPLANATTOI*. .To the Editor. Sir,—ln view <*f the heavy penaitle* inflicted on the Chinese for breaches of tile opium laws; and lenient treatment by the Court of Europeans found guilty of more' serious • I- cannot help thinking: that there, is. one Jaw - for the Chinese and another • for . Europeans. I wish it to be distinctly understood : that I and most of my fellow countrymen are "anxious to put down the opium » evil, but we say that inflicting excesshre penalties' and" imprisonment is<-not-the * way to stamp it out. especially in the case of aged men who have been addicted to the habit for years. In Canton * whence I have lately returned after a lengthy visit there from the dominion, such cases are. treated by •_ European doctors, who instead of cutting off the opium abruptly, allow the' patient a dose which is daily reduced until the habit, is overcome, and the patient's health.restored or at least improved. The general public is of ,o.piniop. that all the opium is imported by the Chinese, but that is not sp,. and they will perhaps be surprised to learn that i the smokers are suppimd-r-by-Europeans, | who hawk the stuff about, and tempt not only the Chinese .who, have acquired the habit, but Europeans also. These men are allowed to. go .unpunished,, and the Chinaipan Is. made thescape-goat. Regarding the white woman who wan found in a room witli one of the, Chinese, I have to state, after , having made careful enquiries, that the. woman, who la one of the unfortunate ..class, with numerous -convictions recorded against her in' various parts of- New Zealand, came from Dunedin with that Chinaman, and was living with him at the boarding house as his wife. This class of women are like the opium hawkers, another curse to my people, and should not go unpunished. Instead of being solicited they solicit, .and most of the debauchery charged against the Chinese is caused and instigated by thcaP women and men. _ In conclusion I may state that I am not in any way related to or concerned in the businesses of the parties fined. I would like some of the Magistrates to .visit China, and see how differently their countrymen are treated there by the Chinese authorities from the treatment Of the Chinese here. Young Chinais awakening, so we may look forwart to a better understanding between the races in the near future. 1 may farther add that I am not an opium smoker, nor have I ever smoked it in my life. I am, etc.. VT. YOUNG WAH. • Invercargill, M*y 18th, 1813.