THE CHINESE AGONY.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 18 May 1881, Page 2

THE CHINESE AGONY.

Concerning the recent influx of Chinese into New South "Wales, the Sydney Morning Hearld writes: — ' Enquiries we have been able to make have elicit 3d information of a not every encouraging oature. We suggested last week that, if the visitation was to be regarded as an exceptional thing which would soon ceise, there" might not be much to complain about ; but that it were the first ripple of a steady flowing tide, the question would have a more serious aspect. Within about a fortnight upwards of 2000 Chinese have arrived, and we understand that there is now a very large number afloat en route from Hong Kong .to this colony. The question that is prompted by this migration, is what has caused it ? and it is a question not 1 very easy to answer. So far as this colony is concerned there has been no special cause for it further than the general prosperity of the community, L i«m < gri t ely*irfficen»*6* account for the~§migration of such numbers of an* alien race bittferward. - The Chinese who are here appear as greatly exercised in their minds as the Europeans at the sudden arrival of so mmy of their countrymen. They deny that the new comersjare under engage ineut to persons eitber here or in China, and explain the exodus from the home country is occasioned by]the great depression which exists there. The poorer classes, from whomjtbe emigrants are drafted, have to face the prospects of starvation in thjir own country, or seek the wherewithal to keep body and soul together in some country where their|!!energies would have freer and more profitable scope. The new comers are described by some of their countrymen, who have already made homes for them' selves in this city, as ignorant'people who are unable either to read or write. It is only by great self-denial that they are able to scrape together sufficient money (about £8, we believe), to pay their passages to Australia ; and the greater part of them are almost penniless when tjiey land here. Some of the Chinese merchants in Sydney expressed to our reporter their belief that now the tide of Chinese immigration to these shores has commenced we shall have a steady influx, and that before the year is'out 12,000 Chinese will land at tbisjport unless some check can be put upon the inflow. Instead of being as many people think, a source of'profit. to'the Chinese employers of labor here, the immigrants prove a serious burden for they have to be housed and fed ; until they admitted the stranger . into their houses, the answer was — ' What can we do ? They are our own countrymen ; and if we do nofadmit them they willj'fall finto the hands' of the police.' A document has been placed in our hands, signed by a re* spectable Chinese resident; which states that majority a Chinese merchants and residents in Sydney are averse to the wholesale importation of Chinese to this colony such asjs now taking place. 1