A WHITE WELLINGTON. TO THE EDITOR

Sir—We are lately so engrossed with the affairs of foreign nations that we do not appear to realise that evils connected with them are present and assuming threatening proportions under our very eyes. In this city of Wellington we have a large commercial industry almost exclusively a monopoly in tho hands of the yellow man, and a race of people growing up in our streets with almond eyes and yellow skins. Altogether independent of rite, there are many cogent reasons why the Chinese question should receive more attention at the hand of those in authority. Will any one contend that the Chinese as a race Of people should be allowed to almost completely monopolise tho fruit trade of Wellington? This is a large and important industry, and it is rapidly growing larger. The Chinese shops are growing with the trade. The numbers of the Chinese engaged in it are greater now than they woro ten, yiant ago. Not only is this' so, but the business of the British tobacconist, of tho British grocer, of the British mercer even, us added to the business of the Chinese shop, in which one .can now purchase a Tioat of things other than fruit. One tnjist say tntit the patience and toleration of tho British struggling business man under these circumstances aro wonderful. Ho pays enor mous rents, socialistic laws press heavily upon him, and now he hos as a competitor in his legitimate business tho Celestial, of all men 'It did seem, at one time, that a decado or two would see the ond of tho Chinese reign in Wellington. The poll-tax would prevent him arriving, and the Johns then in the city would gradually go to lay their bones in the Flowery Land. This hope has no chance of being, realised. If ono John goes, another takes his place a tas. of £100 is nothing to John, -who, indeed, even pays that sum to import a Chinese Mutant. There are now in tho city a number of half-caste Chinese piccaninnie the ruling Chinese generation of Wellington. And tho Chinese shops, instead of decreasing, are extending in every direction. What, then, should bo done? I think an extension of the principle we adopt to keep the Chinaman out; should be applied to the Chinese already in tho country. I would license the Chinese doing business in the city (I understand that them are no Chinese fruit-shops in the other cities) and charge £100 a year for the license, which should permit the sale in the shop licensed of fruit and vegetables only, and stringent conditioner should be enforced with regard to the cleanliness and wholesomeneto of the shops and residence of the Chinese and thei" methods of dealing with the fruit sold. Violation of these conditions should lead to a forfeiture of the license. In fact, John should be subjected to strict and tigid supervision. The present Chinese »h6pkeepors only should be licensed if one died, or having made his pile in Cuba street) returned to the Celestial country, there should be that license the less for the year following. In this simple way the Chinese doing business in Wellington could disappear in ten years or so. Muoh moro could be said, but the subject in large and this letter is already too long. I am, etc., H.R.R. Wellington, 19th January. Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1904, Page 15