Wairarapa Daily Times, 5 March 1907, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.^[1][]

The Anti-Chinese Agitation[]

TO THE EDITOR.[]

Sir,—l read your sub-editorial in last evening's issue with a feeling of extreme pleasure, not to say admiration—admiration for your courage in speaking a few homely truths about our local Chinese population when they are being unjustly arraigned in common with undesirable members of their race in other parts of the colony. Whatever evils have been justly attributable to the Chinaman in different parts of Now Zealand, people in this town have very little mischief to lay at the door of the yellow population. We have had Chinese in Masterton for very many years now probably earlier than many larger centres, and among them we have known individual Chinamen who, for benevolence and public spiritedness, have set a good many whites an example. Going back to some twenty years ago, many residents may remember a character named Too Long. Now, Too Long was never happier than when he was doing someone a good turn. His bi-weekly visits on his vegetable round were welcome alike to customers and children—for he was extraordinarily fond of children. At the Christmas season the old fellow's generosity had wide limits, and when at last he returned to China to spend the evening of his days in his native town, it was with the universal good wishes of the public of Masterton who knew him. At a later date came another party named Wong You. Wong had for several years a grocer's business in Masterton, having at one time two shops in Queen-street. I can personally vouch for this Chinaman's kindly qualities, as I well remember seeing a child go into his shop for vegetables, and tender him payment, which he refused. I asked him why, and he said, "Oh, too poor." Wong You's benevolent characteristics eventually compelled him to "shut up shop,'' and if the history of his downfall had been disclosed I believe it would have been conclusively shown that giving credit to poor people who were quite unable to pay ended in his insolvency. The other Chinese who have resided, and are now residing, here have shown the same spirit, if not in the same degree, and to observe the way they have adapted themselves to the social conditions of a country so radically different from their own is surely remarkable; We, as a community have certainly no desire to see any coloured race whatsoever assume any aggressive proportion, but, as you rightly observe, the general sentiment in this town is decidedly not unfavourable to the Chinese population. There may be need for regulation of the yellow immigration, but the means which should be adopted to achieve that end are certainly not to commence a crusade in a town whose inhabitants, as a community, can have no just cause to say a word disparaging to the Chinese population, as judged by those of that race who have lived, and are now living, within its boundaries. Probably the experiences of no town in New Zealand have been more favourable to the sometimes despised and often unjustly treated Mongolian than those of Masterton. Let, the agitator, if he is so patriotic as he wishes to appear, go to the cities and towns where the police records may assist his arguments, for in Masterton he will assuredly find that the balance "kicks the beam" in favour of an industrious, thrifty and law-abiding class.—l am, etc.,

JUSTITIA.

Masterton, 5th March.

↑ “Correspondence.,” Wairarapa Daily Times, March 5, 1907, Volume LVI, Issue 8698 edition, accessed October 31, 2021, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WDT19070305.2.21.