PROTEST FROM CHINESE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1932, Page 4

PROTEST FROM CHINESE

REPLY MADE TO PETITION “INSULTS” HIGHLY RESENTED. RELATIONS BETWEEN COUNTRIES RETALIATION THE ONLY COURSE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. * Woffington, Nov. 7. A reply issued by Chinese nationals resident in New Zealand to the petition recently presented to Parliament urging the repatriation of Chinese states that the petition is calculated to inflame the minds of New Zealanders against Chinese and. insult not only the Chinese nationals but also the country from which thev sprang. The international code recognises that one nation beara.an obligation to another to see that the nationals residing within its shores are not subject to’humiliation, and that the nation itself is not insulted, continues the statement. Such a violation of the common decencies which should subsist between nations will inevitably have a repercussion, which would be visited necessarily upon British nationals residing within the Republic of China. It is to the advantage of New Zealand that the trade relations with China be cultivated and increased, but if the intolerable insults are continued the dignity of Chinese nations would compel them to take steps to ostracise New Zealand traders from commercial intercourse.

According to the Year Book there were only 2850 Chinese and 1166 Dominions in the Dominion, the reply continues. It was erroneous to state that the Chinese sent an average of £lOO to their relations in China. The average was less than 50 per cent, of that amount, and the money was sent to maintain families and relations of Chinese residing in New Zealand. The money would not be sent if the New Zealand Government allowed the wives and families of the Chinese to come to the Dominion.

The Chinese in New Zealand were drawn from the professional, agricultural, industrial and merchant class, and to describe them as anything bilt highly respectable was false and insulting. It was mendacious to say that the living conditions of the Chinese were insanitary, and the allegations of immorality were grossly libellous. The Chinese were satisfied that reference to the Commissioner of Police would nail the lie to the mast. They trust that this would be the last time when the nationals of the country to which they were proud to belong would be insulted.