Story: Ethnic and religious intolerance

Attacking Chinese (1st of 2)

Attacking Chinese

Within 15 years of their arrival, Chinese became the victims of racist hostility. By 1905, when John Collis Blomfield's cartoon appeared in the New Zealand Free Lance, a poll tax on every incoming Chinese person had been imposed and then raised from £10 to £100. But this did not stop the concern, and – as the cartoon suggests – there were highly negative stereotypes of Chinese. Some people called for even higher poll taxes to keep Chinese immigrants out.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-315-3-042
Cartoon by J. Blomfield

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Paul Spoonley, 'Ethnic and religious intolerance - Intolerance towards Asians', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/cartoon/28173/attacking-chinese (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Paul Spoonley, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 7 Jun 2018