A WHITE NEW ZEALAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17835, 1 May 1926, Page 1

A WHITE NEW ZEALAND.

To the Editor. Sir,—l read with interest the remarks of your correspondent “Not One-Eyed” in Thursday’s issue. It is a strange coincidence that on the same day I should come into possession of actual photographs taken in China last year. Now sir, I propose to leave these with you for a week, and I want “Not One-Eyed” and many other proChinese New Zealanders to call on you and inspect these photographs. If they do not satisfy him that he is wrong when he says “the Chinese are not yellow at heart” I will go “he.” I think they are the best possible argument in favour of a strong British Army and Navy.—l am, etc., WHITEBAIT.

To the Editor. Sir,—As a woman reader of your paper, and a customer of the Chinese ever since I came to Christchurch, I have been very interested in the correspondence about Chinese fruit shops. One correspondent stated that “sometimes even well-dressed women are seen patronising Chinamen.” I cannot claim to be a well-dressed woman, and most of the women whom I see in Chinese shops cannot claim to be well-dressed, for this reason—we cannot afford it. This is also the reason why we have been in the habit of purchasing goods from the Chinamen, because we imagined his goods were cheaper. I am willing to admit, of course, that many times the goods we receive are not up to the standard of the goods displayed and expected. However. I was persuaded by the convincing letters of “White New Zealand” and “Allons” that it was possibly only a delusion about the goods being cheaper, and this week I have made my purchases from a leading white shop. I am pleased to say that the results have been most happy'’, and. looking at the matter from this point of view only, there is no reason for white women patronising Chinamen. After reading the letter of “Allons,” where he asked how a white woman would like it if a Chinaman started in opposition to her husband, I am convinced more and more that many well-meaning but thoughtless women are irtaking a great mistake in not patronising their fellowwhite men and women.—l am, etc., CONVERTED.

To the Editor. Sir, —Having read the letter in last Saturday’s “Star” by “A White Mother,” referring to the way our white girls are carrying on with these young Chinamen, I cannot say I blame the girls entirely, because these yellow men have such sly and cunning ways about them that a young girl might easily be led on and not think she is doing wrong. Still they should be taught better. I would like to draw your readers’ attention to an incident that occurred last Sunday week while I was out with a friend. We were passing a well-known Chinese fruiterer’s shop in this city, when my friend drew my attention to a young girl, about eighteen years old, who was standing in a side entrance laughing and giggling away and carrying on in the most disgraceful manner with two young Chinaman, whose evil-looking faces were enough to make any respectable girl scorn the very sight of such trash. She had a little girl with her about seven, whom I suppose was her sister. Not content with her own Frying on, she was introducing this ...nocent young child to. the wily ways of these yellow men. When one sees this sort of thing one begins to see the folly of even letting the Chinese come into New Zealand. Still, what's done cannot be undone; but the white parents can at least see that their daughters do not mix with these Orientals. Hoping others see this in the same light as I do, —I am. etc., WHITE PARENT.

To the Editor. Sir,—The Oriental attitude, so repugnant to any white man or woman worthy of the name, is truly shown in the letters of Ah Chang. In his first he takes up the insolent and arrogant attitude that the white man is a loafer and that the Chinese spend twice the white man’s expenditure on his meals. As one correspondent pointed out, by the way, this is no credit to him, as gluttony is being recognised as one of our worst sins. It is open to doubt in any case. A white man who has had business relations with a leading Chinese fruit shop informs me that he has been in their dilapidated kitchen at meal time. The meal was in a common bowl, there was only one spoon, and anyone passing through helped themselves from the same spoon, some serving in the shop and going back for another spoonful. Your many correspondents have clearly shown why white shops should be supported instead of Chinese. One of the most convincing arguments appeared, strange to say, in a letter signed “A Green New Zealand,” written in support, apparently, of the yellow men. This writer, whose wandering letter showed signs of a peculiar and warped state of mind, referred to white women who were the mothers of half-caste Chinese offspring. Nothing could be more distasteful and repugnant to a healthy-minded white man or woman than such an occurrence. It is just the possibility of New Zealand being contaminated by the lower class Asiatics that we are anxious to avoid. It stands to reason that when the young yellow man leaves home he is unable to afford the expenses of taking a yellow mate. Hence we have many unspeakably odious cases on reoord. These are only the cases that come to light, however, and must be only an infinitesimal proportion of those that occur. I fail to see how any respectable white woman can possibly demean herself by supporting the shops run by these people. This letter also answers in every particular the one written by “Not Oneeyed.'" This correspondent states that ■ white women are not forced to buy from Chinese, and white girls are not forced to fraternise with them. Perhaps not, and we are out to show reasons why they shouldn't. In almost fhe next column to this correspondent's letter there is the case of a Chinaman who was sentenced to two months' for being in arrears with a maintenance order for an illegitimate, the sentence k being suspended if the arrears are paid. —-T. am, etc., A WHITE KEW 1 ZEALAND,