CHINESE FRUITERERS, Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1906

P29pZD1URE4xOTA2MDQwMi4yLjE1LjEmY29sb3Vycz0zMiZleHQ9Z2lmJmFyZWE9MSZ3aWR0aD0yMzU= — Chinese Fruiterers. (1906, April 2). *Taranaki Daily News*, *XLVII*(8073), 3. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19060402.2.15.1

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8073, 2 April 1906, Page 3^[1][]

CHINESE FRUITERERS.[]

TO THE EDITOR.[]

Sir,—Your correspondent "Search- light" has chosen a misnomer for his pseudonym, or else the mechanism of his investigating medium must be sadly out of order. He answers his own question, " Why are the Chinkies here?" by averring that their shops are more up-to-date, that they stock better fruit, that they are cheaper, and keener for business than the European fruiterers. Permit me; Sir, as one who has viewed with some concern the gradual but sure ousting of the white fruiterer by the Celestial, to deny in toto "Searchlight's" assertions. The shops in New Plymouth speak for themselves, and I defy "Searchlight " to point out wherein the Chinese shops, and, I may add, their surroundings, are more up-to-date. As to the yellow man keeping better fruit, what has " Searchlight" to say to the recent conviction of Chinese in Wellington for selling putrid bananas? Has he ever heard of the Haining and Taranaki street nurseries, where the innocent Chow was in the habit of ripening bananas in the fetid atmosphere peculiar to the underneath of doss benches? “Searchlight's" rays must objects in a light peculiar to his own imagination, if he finds in the suave Chinkie smile an inducement to deal with him. No, Sir, the Chinese only beats the white fruiterer because of his lower standard of living. The Chinese as a factor in the business community would soon cease to exist, if the laboring man and the labor unionists were true to their principles. The Chinese are not to blame for seeking to make the most of their opportunities. Those people who deliberately spend their money at the shops of the Celestials, in preference to those of their own race, are morally responsible for encouraging an undesirable race in this colony. There is one lesson, however, which Now Zealanders might with advantage learn from the Chinese —how to conduct a boycott. China is at present showing the United States how effectively this can be worked ; let New Zealanders show that they also know how to squeeze. In conclusion, Sir, allow me to congratulate you on the outspoken manner in which you, have dealt with this menacing problem, which I firmly believe would be speedily solved if all the newspapers of the colony would only enter on a joint campaign on the lines adopted by you,

—I am, etc., A NEW ZEALANDER.

TO THE EDITOR.[]

Sir, —We noticed in your issue of Match 31st, a letter signed " Searchlight," which had the appearance of being written by one who has some business connection with the Celestials. First, this "Chow-Lover" says their shops are more up-to-date in appearance than those of our white brothers. Now, Mr Editor, do you think this "Chow Lover" could have used his optics when he made this most ridiculous comparison ; secondly, he says they stock better fruit, in larger quantities, and sells the same cheaper than our "white brothers" do. One can see at a glance this is mere piffle; we have in New Plymouth fruit shops which compare favourably with any in the colony. If this " Chow Lover" is a business man, how would he like one of his yellow saints to start as an oppositionist in his line of business'? We think he would pipe a different tune. True Britishers have more stamina than to allow themselves to be attracted by the suave smile of John Chinaman, who circulates little or no money amongst the tradesmen of the town. Thanking you kindly for the space in your highly esteemed paper,

—We are, etc.,

Colonials.----