Chinese Stores In Wau

Letter to the Editor THE continued encroachment of Chinese and their settlement among the European householders of Wau, and throughout the Territory generally, is becoming a matter of grave concern.

Property deteriorates in value as a re sult of such encroachment, and such property-owners are not consulted in re gard to this “peaceful penetration”, which is taking place with the full ap proval and recognition of our Admini stration.

An owner of a house usually takes pride and interest in his home. It is part of his national characteristic to do so.

Nevertheless, Asiatics, and the usual back-yard collections associated with them the world over, are dumped practi cally alongside Europeans’ homes, with perfect disregard for the owner of a well kept home, or the fact that, as a result, his property will depreciate in value.

It would be interesting to know why our officials protect these Asiatics and allow the interest and well-being of their fellow countrymen “to go to the wall”.

If the argument is advanced that they are British subjects, and even may be natives of New Guinea, and as a result are entitled to the rights of citizenship, let us be consistent, and throw open the Civil Service to them.

If such a suggestion is not acceptable to our Administration, then, by the same token, the present encroachment of the Chinese in Wau cannot be allowed to continue without the Administration showing preferential treatment to Asiatics, to the detriment of those who make it possible for the Administration to function.

I am, etc.,

A. G. Villiers.

Wau, TNG, 13/12/1940.

Editorial Note: It was reported, in October, that the Administration had at last arranged for a “Chinatown”, in Wau.

However, Mr. Villiers lives in Wau, so presumably knows his facts.

Mrs. Stella Annie Lepper, wife of Mr.

Alfred Lepper, of Levuka, Fiji, died at Suva War ‘Memorial Hospital recently, aged 43.