Chinese In Wau, Tng

Letter to the Editor

I have been assured by the ADO in Wau, in connection with the pro posed Chinatown, that even when Chinatown is an accomnlished fact, it will still be optional whether the Chinese shift into Chinatown, or remain as they are, scattered among the European popu lation of Wau.

Here is another matter that needs attention: As the law stands to-day, no Chinese in the Territory is allowed to take out a trade licence. So the Chinese circumvent the law, by getting Europeans to dummy for them. A European proceeds to the District Office and, for the sum of £3. procures a trader’s licence, with very few questions asked concerning the licence. The European allows this licence to be displayed over the doorway of a Chinese trade store: and, for this, the Chinaman concerned pays to the Euro pean, whose good name he has stuck up outside his trade store, a few pounds per annum.

By the aforesaid arrangement, both the European and the Chinese concerned, go on their way, rejoicing to think that once again the Government has been blinded with science.

One can draw one’s own conclusions when one is confronted with so many European names appearing over the door ways of Chinese tradestores.

I am, etc.,

Wau Tng. A. G. Villiers.

21/2/1941.

EDITORIAL NOTE: This matter has been causing discussion in the Morobe district lately. It was pointed out by a writer in a recent issue of the “Morobe News”, in reply to urgent representations

by Mr. Villiers, that the Chinese of the New Guinea territory are an important and law-abiding section of the com munity, and that they are doing every thing possible to assist the British war effort, especially in the regularity and size of their donations to the various war funds. The Chinese themselves are in favour of a section of Wau being set aside as a “Chinatown”.

The writer pointed out that the only real grievance against the Chinese is that certain of them induce unprincipled Europeans to allow their names to ap pear, for a monetary consideration, above the doors of what actually are Chinese trade stores —thus defeating the laws in troduced by the Administration for the proper conduct of the Chinese trading community. The Chinese in New Guinea are as well entitled as any other member of the community to make a living with in New Guinea; but they, as well as other sections, must observe the spirit as well as the letter of the law.

Miss Erna Lyons, only daughter of Hon. A. P. Lyons, Director of Public Works in Papua, and Mrs. Lyons, was successful in passing the Queensland Junior examinations for which she re cently sat in Australia. Another successful candidate was Miss Cherie Dougherty, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty, of Port Moresby; while her sister, Heather Dougherty, passed the Queensland Tech nical College’s shorthand and book keeping examinations.

Mr. Alfred E. Stephen, of Sydney, presi dent of the Pacific Islands Society, has been an inmate of the Lister Hospital since mid-February. His many friends will be glad to know that he is responding to treatment.