EMPLOYMENT OF ALIENS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19138, 22 October 1927, Page 15

EMPLOYMENT OF ALIENS.

FIVE PER CENT. ALLOWED. RESTRICTIONS IN AUSTRALIA. IBT CABLE—PRESS ASSOCUTIOK— COPrBIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND K.Z CABLE ASSOCIATION'.! SYDNEY, October 21. As a result of a recent controversy regarding the employment of aliens on public works while Australians and British subjects are out of work, the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board approved of a clause being inserted in all future contracts for water and sewerage construction works to provide that not more than 5 per cent, of aliens shall be employed. Sir Thomas Henley, in moving the motion, quoted a number of works where the aliens equalled or outnumbered British and Australian workers. He said he was assured by contractors that they employed Italians because they.were more effective workers. One contractor had told him that he could get as much work out of six Italians as out of ten Australians. The Italians on these contracts were paid the standard wage, and earned as much as £5 10s a week for forty-four hours. As the standard of living for those aliens was lower than that of Australians, they were able to save money,, and soon left off pick and shovel work and engaged in business competition with Britons and Australians.

Sir Thomas Henley said that he did not blame the contractors for employing the most efficient labour, but a serious position, had to be faced, when there were thousands of Australians and British people seeking employment in Sydney and work was being given to Italians by means of a local organisation for placing aliens throughout Australia. Contractors complained that they could not get Australian and British workers to apply for work on the sewerage contracts, and that many men sent' along by the labour bureau were, either incompetent or would not do that class of work.