THE CHINESE ASTIR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2755, 9 March 1910, Page 2

THE CHINESE ASTIR.

DOMINION CENSUS IN HAND

'Hie East, which refuses to be ‘'hustled,” bids fair to have an Imperial Parliament, containing representatives of its people oversea, while the British race is talking of the distant possibility of a common Chamber. Provision is already being made in order that, in seven "or eight years* time at most, a Chinese M.P. from New Zealand —or whatever the equivalent may bo in China —anay represent his exiled countrymen in a constitutional assembly in Peking, side by side .with Chinese fellow members from Australia, America,: and the other barbarous countries, and with the larger body of compatriot legislators who have never pined In absence from the Flowery Land. It is •now two years since a decree was issued that China was to have a representative Parliament in ten years. The authorities now wish, the Chinese. Consul, Mr. Yung Liang Hwang, informed a “Dominion” representative last week, to accelerate this consummation, but Mr. Hwang w?.5 not certain that thb would be found' possible. Arrangements are, however, being made well in advance. The Consul, with other Chinese Consuls oversea, has been asked to take a census of his countrymen* within liis jurisdiction as a first step towards their representation in the proposed assembly. Annually, for three successive years, a report is to be presented of the number of Chinese in New .Zealand, men, women, and children, together with their occupation* and other particulars. This will throw a good deal of labor on the Consul and his staff, who have no machinery answering to the Electoral Department for the purpose. For the first return, in fact, Mr. Hwang has had to roly on information furnished by the New Zealand Government __ census, which does not cover all the facts required; and probably fails to take in all the Chinese in the more remote districts. There are about 2000 Chinese in New Zealand, of whom 400 are in Wellington city. It is probable that circulars will be sent out immediately with a view to .mating a special comprehensive census of Chinese, in terms of the Imperial Government’s request. •Representation in the proposed assembly will be on a- population basis, and there will probably be only one representative for all the Chinese in New Zealand. It is probable that the election will not cause great excitement, for patient John, who digs and sells for a comparative pittance will not be eligible either as a- voter or a candidate. If there are any Chinese Socialists; which one doubts, they may

ue expected to cry aloud in the fruit .markets against the iniquities of the proposed lranchise. For the Imperial authorities of China, having considered the forms of government in all lands, have decided' that the British system of ‘‘one man, one vote,” is not desirable. ‘‘No hoodlums or larrikins will he allowed to vote,” Mr. Hwang explained to the representative. Directions have been issued, ■which set forth in characters for all Chinese to read, the following restrictions which apply alike to voting and to candidature. No Chinese may become a candidate, or exercise a vote: (1) who is of immoral character, or dishonest; (2) who has served a term in gaol; (3) who is not earning his living by a respectable calling; (4) who is in debt or untrustworthy; (5) who smokes opium; ((>) who is insane; (7) whose home or family is mot of virtuous standing; (8) who is illiterate. In addition to these restrictions as to character and attainments, it is provided that no man may vote, or become a. candidate, whose annual income does not exceed £SOO. Strangest of all, to the European sense, is a (provision that no man may vote or stand for election who is connected with the official service, a member of the standing army or reserve, a policeman, priest, or student. It is argued that officials are already public men, and do not require the honor of election for themselves, while, if they were allowed to vote, the extra influence tiiey would wield by virtue of their positions might not be used impartially. Thu theory which underlies their prohibition would be first applied, in a New Zealand Legislature Act, by disfranchising the Civil Service. The fact that China has drawn, in advance, a strict dividing line between religion and politics shows that it has not been blind to anomalies that have taken place in countries sometimes thought to be more enlightened. The ground for excepting students from election privileges is apparently that they are not considered persons of sufficient weight and gravity. In addition to all this, the Chinese Government requires to have quite a lot of information about prospective candidates. It* wants to know their age, their birthplace, previous public service, and educational attainments. Possibly, when a Chinese Parliament is established in these lines, a number of our local legislators will pay a visit to I Peking, which should not he so useless las some previous ‘‘Parliamentary ; trips.”