Banner image: 25 Chinamen having a meal break at the back of the Burketown Court House in 1894. They were illegal immigrants, arrested for crossing the South Australia--Queensland border. They had lost their jobs in the northern territory and were looking for work in Queensland.
The bureaucratic machinery of White Australia: Queensland
After much debate, the Immigration Restriction Act was passed in December 1901. It was implemented in 1902 by the former colonial Customs combined into a federal service, with restrictions on all coloureds, not just Chinese.
Initially overzealous in attempting to root out fraudulent use, the new Queensland branch of His Majesty's Customs rejected the entry of some returning Chinese expecting to re-settle in a now federated Australia. Their old colonial Queensland permits, issued under the 1888 Chinese Immigration Restriction Act, were impounded and they were forced to return to Canton.
Customs at Cooktown, the first main land port of call for vessels returning to Australia, sent Sub-Collector Ogilvy to examine incoming passengers. There was no interpreter present. After the passenger ship from Hong Kong steamed into Cooktown harbour on 14 June 1902, in the first operation of federal controls at the port, he confiscated three colonial permits and stopped these Chinamen from entering:
Yee Chee, a 28 years old Cantonese from Cooktown, worked as a market gardener for 5 years in the Colony before returning to Canton for a two year spell:
"In my opinion the person presenting this permit is not the person to whom it was granted. He does not correspond with particulars endorsed thereon. He is therefore refused permission to land and his permit is impounded and sealed to the transire. Being unable to speak English, test not put to him."
43 year old Pong Kew had run a store before he left for China early in 1901. He spoke good English. It didn't help:
"In my opinion the person presenting this permit is not the person to whom same was granted. (1) He does not resemble the photograph attached and (2) he does not correspond with the particulars endorsed therein. He is therefore refused permission to land and his permit is impounded."
Yin Hing, 36, gardener
"In my opinion the person presenting this permit is not the person to whom same was granted. (1) He does not resemble the photograph attached and (2) he does not correspond with the particulars endorsed therein. He is therefore refused permission to land and his permit is impounded and sealed to the transire. Being unable to speak English, test not put to him.
Ogilvy scrupulously scrutinised returning Chinese for ring-ins and he didn't have to wait long -- ten days later the next steamer arrived carrying 32 year old horticulturist Chung Bow, who had arrived in the Colony as a 16 year old youth. His permit was impounded, he was forced to return to Canton.
By now Ogilvy's memos to Customs Head Office Brisbane had become a litany of rejection for permit holders: within a year he could boast of the following trophies to his superiors:
Another possibility was the smuggling in of alien infants:
Che Shing, 23, was born in Darwin. Before she left there for Canton with her son Horace Lee Weah Kim on the S.S.St. Albans on October 24, 1928, she had this encounter with Officialdom. She and another woman, Lin Scene separately applied to Darwin Customs for re-entry permits, mentioning they were "enceinte". They were referred to the Government Medical officer to determine if they really were pregnant. Che Shing didn't turn up for the appointment and the doctor couldn't determine Lin Scene's pregnancy.
The reason? The possibility existed that these women were not pregnant and might try to smuggle, on return, in a child born in China that was not their own. This intrusion into the lives of these women was justified in this 1928 extract from the files;
“If the respective husbands of these women are still at Darwin they should be cautioned against introducing, without special authority from the Department, any child born abroad, and the necessary authority for admission has not been granted, the child should only be permitted to land under the provisions of Section 6, pending reference to this Department.” That is, ........
This directive was sent to all Customs offices in the Commonwealth.
DEPT HOME and TERRITORIES,
CANBERRA. A.C.T.,
19th June,1930
The Collector of Customs,
MELBOURNE VIC .
CHINESE APPLICANTS FOR C.E.D.T.
With regard to the rule under the Chinese Student Regulations that children from l0 to 14 years of age will be admttted for educational purposes only in cases where they are coming to join a parent or parents already residing in Australia it may be stated for your oonfidential information that the Department has reason in a case now under consideration to doubt the bona tides or a Chinese who claims to be the father of two children whose admission is sought.
2. In several other cases, also, the records of visits to China have shown that alleged fathers could not have had children of the ages stated in the applications.
3. As a safeguard in the future, it is desired that all applicants for C.E.D.T should be asked to state whether they are married or not, and if so, the place of residence (if she is living). The form of application (Form No.22) should be amended before issue, to include the following questions which could be written or typed on, viz:
5a. (a) Are you married or single (b) if married, where does the wife reside (if living)?4. If the applicant states that he is married and that his wife resides in China, he should be further questioned, when he calls to have his certificate completed, as to whether he has any children; if so, particulars as to their respective names; date of birth, and sex should be included in a written statement which should be signed by the applicant and the officer who receives it, and attached to the file for future reference if necessary.
F.J.Quinlan
Assistant Secretary
Here's an example from the Victorian files:
NAA: A1, 1912/23832Administration of Immigration Restriction Act
6. P.11, sec.4B para.5
Chinese parents frequently leave their children (especially those under 12) IN CHINA FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, IN WHICH CASES ENDORSEMENTS ON THE PARENTS' CERTIFICATES WOULD BE OF NO USE. IT ALWAYS SAVES THE DEPARTMENT TROUBLE IF SEPARATE CERTIFICATES ARE OBTAINED for the children in such cases, as an inducement to the parents, I think it would be useful to insert the following clause in this paragraph,viz:- "It may also be pointed out to the parents that, if they obtain "cert...s for their A b children, such "certs will be extended, on application, without "payment of additional fees".
DRAFT The bureaucratic machinery of White Australia: Victoria
When James Campbell Matthew Gleeson of the Geelong constabulary was promoted to head Federal Customs Police, Victoria branch, in 1916, surveillance of aliens reached new highs. Here was a walloper who lived and breathed street...from dirty pictures to contraband gold to watered-down whiskey to opium smuggling. He fingered his man with Jauvert-like tenacity:
His mission was to end the Victorian opium trade and the Immigration Restriction Act seemed the perfect instrument to achieve this. Criminal conviction for offences required proof beyond reasonable doubt but here innuendo and suspicion could taint a suspect's reputation sufficiently to prevent him re-entering the country. Or so Gleeson thought :
CHIN GOOEY's application for a CEDT and his connection with opium and gambling dens
The Collector,
In reference to the attached application of Chin Gooey I have to report that the applicant is a member of the firm of Sun Nam Hie & Co., Chinese storekeepers, 220 Little Bourke Street.
2. The above-named firm deals in all sorts of Chinese goods and the business is respectably conducted.
3. Although no gambling or opium smoking is carried on on the premises, Chin Gooey is a frequent visitor to Chinese opium dens in the locality. I have driven him out or these places on at least two occasions when I have raided the dens. I have seen him entering the the houses on other occasions.
I don't think he smokes opium but I in informed that he finances at least two opium dens whose interests he looks after.
4. In addition to the opium business I am informed that he has a big interest in at least three (3) gambling dens close to where he lives. At times he assists in the management of these places and may be seen entering and leaving at different hours of the day and night.
5, In view of the questionable business carried on by Chin Gooey, I think it would be advisable for the Collector to forward his application to the Home & Territories Department for information and consideration.
signed J. Glesson
SHE GIN's. Application for an Exemption Certificate
The Collector.
I have to report in connection with She Jins' attached application for an exemption Certificate under the Immigration Act, that I examined him yesterday through Mr. Lum, the Interpreter, and attach his statement. According to it he only arrived here in 1902 which I am confidentially informed is about correct. He also asserted that for the past two years he had been in the employ of Sun Goon Shing, Little Bourke Street, as shopman. On this particular point I can flatly contradict him, as I used to very frequently visit his store during the period mentioned , and knew the principals and employees there, and I can safely say that I have only seen She Jin there once, and that was about two months ago, on which occasion he preceded me into the shop. On the other hand I used to see him moving about in Little Bourke Street almost every time that I went there. He is a very noticeable Chinese and dressed particularly well. Hence he stands out from the others.
2., Fully two years ago it was reported to me that She Jin was one or the leading opium dealers in Melbourne, and subsequent inquiries went to show that this was correct. Two members of the firm of Sun Goon Shing, namely Shee Chin and Louey Hoong were also reported to be big opium dealers. Their practice was to rent a room from some trusted friend in the suburbs, store the opium there and bring it into the City very late at night. I located one of their depots at Toorak about nine months ago, and although I found a number of empty opium tins concealed beneath the floor of the room, I failed to find any opium. I subsequently discovered depots at Moonee Ponds and North Fitzroy, but on each occasion missed the opium. I was informed about 18 months ago that She Gin was constantly travelling out to St. Kilda head by tram for the purposes, so it was alleged, of bringing opium to the city late at night. My informant, whom She Jin knew, attempted to follow him on several occasions, but after going a little distance on the tram would jump off, board another tram going in the opposite direction and return to his starting point, then enter an hotel and slip out the back way, thereby baffling my informant.
3. Another informant of mine shadowed She Jin on foot to Fitzroy one night with a view to discovering where he kept his opium, but the latter suspected that he was being followed, slipped into an hotel in Gertrude Street, Fitzroy and disappeared through the back.
4. It was also reported to me by an informant who was watching him that he used to visit the opium smoking dens daily for orders.
Sometimes he would bring the opium himself, and at other times it was delivered by one or two men whom he employed for the purpose.
5.Some months ago, by permission of the Collector, I engaged a man for a short period to see it he could trap She Jin, but he was unsuccessful, owing to She Jin's astuteness.
6. This man was an associate of Hey Gin and Hey Poo, now serving sentences in Pentridge for conspiracy. After their downfall, he, She Jin, Shee Ghin and Louey Hoong had a monopoly of the opium business here. It has frequently been told to me that She Jin made a small fortune out of opium. He went to Sydney a couple of months ago, and I was appraised of the fact at the time. It was alleged by my informant that he intended to apply for an Exemption Certificate there. I advised the Sydney authorities, but he did not apply.
signed
J. Gleeson
Japanese-Queensland agreement
C1926.4554HidetaroKosakaWakayama5.11.1874Laundryman438MilitaryRdMosman24.4.1902
When Hidetaro Kosaka who ran a laundry on Mitary Rd Mossman applied for a CEDT to visit Wakayama in 1918, Customs were astonished to find that he entered in April, 1902 after the Immigration Restriction Act applied. He was one of 106 Japanese who arrived in Townsville on the Kumano Maru.
Ben Akimoto, 34, in Longreach in 1914 and 10 years later in Brisbane
Laundress or Sex Worker?
Japanese girl dressed in a kimono in 'Yokohama Street' (Sachs St now Grafton St), Cairns, about 1902.
[This] "street in Cairns, just a mile long, was entirely composed of 'houses of ill fame', the nightly resort of foreigners", wrote an over-enthusiastic travelling journalist at the time.
It was asserted that "the presence of these Japanese women,...was desirable as a means of protecting the wives and daughters of the white citizenry from assault, rape and possible murder by South Sea Islanders and other aliens as had occurred in other sugar growing districts."
Although the Queensland government knew there were Japanese prostitutes throughout the northern regions of the colony and did have concerns about their activities, it did not restrict their entry. Perhaps it was too hard to determine just how many were actually engaged in prostitution as their houses were ‘not kept as brothels, but as a store, a boarding house, or a laundry’. The government saw Japanese prostitutes as providers of ‘a service essential to the economic growth of the north’ and their sexual services ‘made life more palatable for European and Asian men who worked in pearling, mining and pastoral industries’.
The Bulletin Vol. 25 No.1247 of 7 January 1904 p.16 captioned by an editor: "Asiatic Australia - a phase that is passing away. Federal Parliament is now absolutely dominated by the White Australia party"
Drawn by Black and White artist Benjamin Edwin Minns (b.1863 Dungog d.1937) who specialised in Aboriginal caricatures. In his Sydney studio he imagined this tropical sly grog shanty, with drinkers served by an exotic Karayuki-san whilst an Aboriginal mother with half-caste babies passes by.
"Japanese women of Broome, 1920". Battye Library, W.A. State library
King Chow was photo
graphed in Palmerston for this S.A. permit dated 5th October 1891 making it the oldest travel permit photo in the National Archives. He later moved to Melbourne where he applied for a CEDT in 1923 and his old permit was placed on his file there
.
Second oldest National archive permit photo in existence. Taken in 1891, three years after the passing of the South Australian Chinese Immigration Restriction Act, 16 year old Darwin waiter, Lee Gin, was identified as Australian born in this permit. He would be allowed to return to the Northern Territory of the South Australian Colony after visiting Canton.. Found
in the Darwin National Archives.(series E752 control symbol 1916/17) He later worked as a fisherman. At 47 years old in 1916, he returned to live in Canton after visiting there for a year between 1909 and 1910.
Go Tak was a rural worker on the Atherton tablelands. He was renowned for his knowledge of Chinese medicine and herbs, effecting cures where tradition Western medicine had failed. He cultivated varieties of roses which are still being grown around Ravenshoe (on the Atherton Tablelands, north Queensland) today. The locals named a road after him to honour his contribution to their community. His story is told by Evelyn Fatur in her booklet on his life, available from
Evelyn FaturPO Box 110
Ravenshoe QLD 4872
DRAFT:Sand tailers, pear cutters, giants and pinhead freaks
"Pear cutters" and the Bounty:
One of the early and drastic prickly pear treatment method - fumes from a boiling arsenic mixture drifting through the scrub (c.1919) northwestweeds.nsw.gov.au
Strychnine was the effective poison used to cull the nation-wide spread of prickly pear but it also killed the rural workers including Chinese labour gangs...
The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954)
Wednesday 13 September 1911 QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, Sep. 12. The Commissioner of Police received a telegram to-day, stating that the Chinese who were poisoned while working on Armadilla Station, were engaged in cutting prickly pear. In their camp was found a drum used for water supply purposes. This had been used by the former camp to hold prickly pear poison. No foul play was suspected. The contents of the stomachs of those who died were being sent to the Government Analyst for analysis.
Two pear cutters whose CEDT photos show the noxious effects of the wor.
k.Click on the thumbnail faces for details:
DRAFT:Yan Fan Tai 'Pinhead Freak' employed by Mr. Chong, 201 Lonsdale St Melbourne as an actor, 28, born N.China Stayed for about 8 years 1940 - c.1948
