A Chinese Trick.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13520, 15 February 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Chinese Trick.

The smuggling of Chinese into the Commomvealth continues, says the Sydney corresuondent of the New Zealand Times, and .the trade is said to be so profit-able that as much as £BO has been paid for the safe landing of only one man. The difficulties in the way of stopping the traffic are exemplified by an incident which is reported to have occured when an Eastern steamer recently arrived at an. Australian port. One Chinese, who professed to have lived previously in the Commonwealth, was found to be unablo to speak a word of English, and was unable to prove that he had ths slightest knowledge of the country where he was supposed to have resided. IJowever, the custom authorities let him proceed to the southeem port for which his ticket was marked, and no • 'doubt reasoned that he would meet his Nemesis there when he tried to get ashore. However, when the steamer reached this port, it was discovered that the man could speak English well, and, moreover, was full of information about the condition of the country and of his own cabbnTe patch in particular. It was then that the disgusted immigration officer discovered the little trick which had been worked. The first man was smuggled ashore at an. intervening port, and his place had bean taken by 5 one of his countrymen, who came on board fully primed by reason of residence in the country to present the stranger's certificate and answer all enquiries of the authoritiees at the port of destination..