THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7946, 23 January 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1906.

The story of Chinese labour in the Transvaal is miserable and sordid, look at the question how one may; but it has remaiued for r Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman to play the most contemptible part imaginable in connection with the whole wretched business.- For some time past it has been galling to note the approach of the oulminating point J of the trick which England's new Prime Minister and his followers j have been playing upon an enormous percentage of the eleotors at Home. Speaking bat a week ago, at Liverpool, Sir Henry said that if the representative in the Legislature desired Chinese in South Africa his Ministry would not desire to meddle; but Chinese labour, under, conditions bearing the taint of servitude, could not be tolerated in the King's Dominions. Thus, as on previous occasions, was the way prepared—thus was the great act of duplicity proceeded with. # * * * * When Mr Horrldge, who defeated Mr Balfour, was thanking his supporters ho declared that his victory was largely due to the fact that hie

constituents loathed the introduction of Chinese labour into the Transvaal. Mr Chamberlain' avers that thero has been no fair and square fight on tDo fiscal reform question, and surely Mr Chamberlain is justified in making this statement? It wa9 the Transvaal labour question that chiefly brought about the downfall of the Balfour Government—it wan the question in regard to which the Liberals attacked most strongly—it was an aotion that called forth all the invective and all the indignant protests of which they are capable. However, the other day Mr Herbert Gladstone must have surprised a good many people when he stated that owing to the Liberal criticisms the conditions of the Chinese on the Hand had been improved. If it could be shown that the conditions were those of slavery it would again be the duty of the Imperial Government to see that the conditions of work were such as could be tolerated by a Christian constitutional Government. Mr Gladstone must certainly hold very peculiar Ideas as to what are really improved conditions, if the so-called "improved conditions 1 ' are considered satisfactory, or such aa can be tolerated in a Christian constitutional community. The "drives" of which we constantly read, when the escaped Chinese slaves are hunted like wild beasts, dues not suggest that peace and goodwill prevail in every quarter in the Transvaal. * * * * * The Liberal Party's supreme act of hypocrisy will have reached the culminating point when responsible Uoverameut is granted to the Transvaal. In yesterday's issue a cable message stated that it had been resolved to grant responsible Government immediately—"the sooner we succeed in shelving the real problem in the Transvaal all the better for us," says the Liberal party! And there cannot be the faintest shadow of doubt that this is exactly what Sir Henry CampbellBannerman and hU party intended to do all along, if once tbey succeeded in worming their way into power. Their protests against the slavery in the Transvaal were a sham, and worse than a sham, for they were made ou account of selfinterested motives. No wonder the enemies of .Britain rejoice at Sir Henry's viotory, and that the Afrikander Bond is jubilant. Mentioning the .Afrikander Bond brings to mind the attitude ot England's present Prime Minister when the Boer war was in progress, and the fact that the Boers wera, no doubt, incited to continue the struggle longer than would otherwise have been the case by the speeches of that gentleman. * * * * * Whatever the sins of the Balfour ! Administration may have been it cannot be contended that they ever I hoped for beneOt when agreeing to the introduction of the Chinese. Tbey must have known that their decision would create controversy, and as uttely wrong, and as unjustifiable as their action was, they had, at least, the courage of their opinions. As we have said before the Campbell-Bannerman Ministry nave succeeded in making pulitioal capital of a purely personal character out of a system thnt their leader has described as "villainous," and the "glory" of it all is solely theirs; while the' shameful system will be continued, but under the administration of another Legislative body ! The inaugural gathering of the Wairarapa Amateur Athletic Club's meeting, held on the Park Oval, yesteraay, was distinctly creditable to the officials oonoerned, and a souroe .of much pleasure to the numerous spectators. A feature of the arrangements that contributed so greatly to the enjoyableness of the pvogramme from the general publiu's point of view was that only the officials were allowed within .the Oval itself, and thus the spectators were able to witness all the events, which, as a whole, were exceptionally interesting, from starn to finish, The attendance, although good, was not as largo as we should have liked it to have been. The promotion of olean sport, and ihe development of healthy, manly competitions in the community is a movement that should receive a most general support, nud be welcomed by everyone who is interested in the welfare of the youth of Masterton. Wo congratulate the officials upon the success obtained yesterday, and trust that it will prove the forerunner of many, and more auspicious gatherings.