THE CHINESE PEOPLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10305, 9 November 1911, Page 1

THE CHINESE PEOPLE.

THE CONSUL IN NEW ZEALAND. AN INTERESTING VISITOR. Mr Chow Si Lanchu, the Imperial Chiueso Consul for New Zealand, who is visiting this city, is a native of Pekin, where he was born twenty-nine years ago. He began life in the Government service there, but was educated in America, graduating at a New York college, where he spent seven years. Later on he was appointed Vice-Consul at Manila; then he returned to the Government service at Pekiu, and lately received the appointment of Consul to this dominion. In a chatty interview yesterday he said that there was no doubt that the present trouble in China was the direct result of the demand that had been made for some timo for constitutional government. The idea really was to improve tho present syst-ciu rather than to bring about very violent changes. The leaders of the rebellious movement did not wish to introduce a republican form of government, but merely to bring about constitutional changes, which would still leave tho Emperor on tho throne, but which would largely restrict his powers and would prevent the members of the Imperial family .from holding the high offices of State. The proposal, in fact, was to appb/ to tho Chinese nation a constitution moulded on that of the British Empire, and establishing a limited monarchy. When the trouble was over and'the nation settled down to peace again, the Mancbus would probably unite with tho other sections and all would push on along the road of progress, on the lines adopted by Western nations. The edict issued by the PJm.peror somo time ago, permitting intcr-mnrriage between the Manchus and the other races of- China, would foster that spirit. All the leaders of the rebellion had adopted Western ideas. Many of them were educated in foreign countries and were well acquainted with foreign ideas in j regard to government, education, encouragement of industries, and so on. As a matter of fact, at the present time there were more Chinese students in foreign countries tlir.n there had ever been, and most of them would return to their native land in order to give their fellow-countrymen the benefit of their studies and experience. Speaking of the Chinese in Cbristchurch. whom he has visited during his stay here, he said that he found them on the whole contented and fairly prosperous. They told him that during the past few years they had. been treated much better than previously. Their windows were not broken by stones now and they were no longer annoyed by larrikins. lie bad found that the _sn.mo _ satisfactory state of affairs existed in Wellington. Mr Lanolin has been in New Zealand lor only ft bout six weeks. On Monday b.e ivill leave Christ.church for Duncdin. He will then return North, and snend some time in the Auckland province. inquiring into the condition of the Chinese on the gumfields and goldfields in that part of-the dominion.