THE SKILLED WORKERS, GRIEVANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 257, 3 November 1906, Page 9

THE SKILLED WORKERS , GRIEVANCE.

Apart from "the objection which most people; have to the presence of Chinese in their midst, the skilled workers on the mines have a very personal and serious ■ grievance. When the proposal to introduce Chinese was first mooted some of us who were unfavourable to the proposal pointed out that, notwithstanding the ordinance which had been passed by the Legislature, there would be a number of evasions, and that, in all probability, the Chinese would be gradually introduced into skilled work!' That has already taken place. Some of the labour unions deputed one of their number to make an examination into certain allegations as to evasions, and he reported that in a few of the mines he was able to visit there were, in all, between one hundred and fifty and two hundred Chinese employed in skilled work as carpenter and so forth. There seems every reason to fear that if the Big House's are sufficiently strong to control the coming Parliament, they would be able not only to retain the Chinese here, but also to break down many of the conditions of the ordinance which restricts the kind of labour in which they may be employed, and by this means the number of white skilled workmen would be gradually reduced. In referring to the table nf payments, which I give, it will be seen that the amount expended by the mines ; on white labour represents £1 0/0 out of every ounce of gold produced, as against 12/2 expended in native labour. If the amount for white labour can be materially reduced by the employment of skilled Chinese in many departments, the amount so saved will be a direct profit to the mine-owners, and we may be sure that they will strain every nerve to attain that object. A SUGGESTED BEMEDY. In connection with this great question of labour and its supply, I may say that there is strong reason to.suppose that it is not necessary to employ so much rough labour as they have at present. The native is strong and robust, but he does not get through much work, and the white men employed about the mine are so accustomed to have a large number of ''"boys" about them, that they do not get the best results. It has been feund, in some instances, that rock-drillers who do their w<jrk by contract are enabled to get out a great deal more stone by giving a small bonus to the "boys" under them, and should this practice become general, with a minimum rate of wages for the natives and a bonus addition, according to the ore they got out, it will, most likely, be found that the number may be. very greatly reduced, and the quantity of ore sent to the mill will be maintained. Should such be done there will then be no question as to the supply of rough labour, and the fear' that white miners have of being gradually supplanted will cease to exist. One or two of the mines have recently been getting a number of Cape '"boys" (half-castes) from Cape Colony, chiefly Cape Town, where there is an acute depression just now, and these also will, to some extent, be an element of risk to the white skilled workmen, \ but the Cape "boys" are not numerous, as compared to the Chinese, and many maintain that they have not the same ability to do skilled work. I think I may safely say, notwithstanding the protests to the contrary on the part of the mining magnates, that many of them are desirous of working the mines as far as possible without white labour, in order to materially increase their profits, and this must also be a question which will not' be overlooked at the coming elections, because it will have a very direct political significance. If Het Yolk gain a majority such a thing- would bo impossible, and we may expect to find the local Press still further emphasising the necessity for British unity, or else of anathematising the Dutch combination, the reason i being that those who control these papers have this card up their sleeve.