[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Reading the article under
the above heading in your issue of May 28th I came upon this :—" The reluctance of California and Australia" (to the presence of the yellow man) "is based on an instinct, and not upon reflection." Will you allow me to express another idea P I have lived for a short time in New Zealand ; and as a housekeeper I dealt with the Chinaman for my vegetables and fruit, being told by an old Colonist that he was as trustworthy and honest to do business with as any European—and pleasanter. When one day talking to my butcher, he told me that some little time ago a friend had come to him in great trouble, saying that he was ruined. On being asked " How P " he replied; "A 'Johnnie 'has come and planted himself just opposite my shop" (he was a green- grocer), "and you know what that means." And truly in a few months that shop was closed. What chance had a decent man with wife and children to support against a "Johnnie "- Chinamen are all "Johnnies "—who will work sixteen hours a day, seven days a week, sleep on a sack under his counter, live mostly on rice, and probably be financially backed by a syndi- cate in China ? Is it not reason and reflection even more than instinct which cause the Colonist to fear such rivalry P—I am,
Sir, &c., H. E. A.
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