The feeling in Australia and New Zealand against Chinese immigrants
is increasing rapidly, and some recent cargoes have been refused permission to land at Melbourne and Sydney. The resident Chinese also have been attacked in Brisbane, their shops being wrecked, and the rioters insisting that they shall return to their own country. The Colonial Governments all appear willing to impose a landing-tax of 2100 a head ; but the general feeling is in favour of a total prohibition, to be arranged by treaty. Such a treaty, it is believed, would be agreed to at Pekin, where the feeling of statesmen is entirely against emigration to foreign lands. We have discussed the subject elsewhere, but may note here that the immediate cause of the outburst in Australia is an increase in the number of immigrants caused by the prohibition to enter the United States. The speculators who ship Chinese labourers under contract to be repaid from their first year's labour, have been driven by this law to select a new place of debarkation, and have pitched upon Australia.
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