STAY AWAY!

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 428, 10 February 1909, Page 7

STAY AWAY!

LABOUR'S ADVICE TO IMMIGRANTS. TOO MANY HANDS: TOO LITTLE WORK deputation: to hon. a; fowlds. %1 J 'What was described asithe..pressing-need -} > for 'restricting assisted, immigration for "the {''i; present at any/rate was brought' under the , ; ' notice .'of the Hon. ;G. :Fpwlds, Minister: for J Inunigration/.'last nightjhy'.aj.depntatioiivin-' ;v troduceoV by'Mv. J?:;-'*}* that its members"represented the Trades and.'-; 5 various labour unions in,-:, tho .city, and,'" indirectly,/'the labour bodiee-'' throughout the .'■ V'~-::- : '.;'.; ;' j" '-.'.l. '•-"' Slack' Staita of Thidei In the r Cityi\,?; f ;;■ Mr. McLaren said it was desired.to refer, :"" to two things:— (l) .The.immigrationvpolicjr.' ■ ' of the Qoyernnient, existing'state,;-: of trade ■•in'•New-'Zearand?'" , - Fromlreports'.-■ which he had received: from various parts ;• of the Dominion during, the :past f it wasclear that'there/were-a largesnumber" ■ of -Iradesmon. out of ''wdrkV ;!He had : collectedi ; figures ; relating tp.'the .state , of .trade .in-.': various' industries in Wellington. " .Krst-of :''f. : all, he": would touehvon -the'amount of em-,-, v .ployment,<available .;:in' \', theyiron-biiilding;■ '-.-. trade.: .Last year.: Luke's,foundry, employed; ■,-, Lt'-moulderß; vhow;-they -j had '..only'-four;.". At;4'/:Crabt'ree 1 s'-' twelve, were: employed last year,- -t; •whereas : there/was.now only. w.ork. ; fw...four.;v : - ; w'as'lbeing' , worked 'at,'present; at.. !? . Eo.b l 'erts'6n's..> i At , 'Gable's,and"'3lurphy's work':;;.? was on., a par. with last year. ' Nothing'jwas,;.; 5 being done in.' that line .at Keegan's. at .Newj."'!;?• And at the 'Government workships two r .o 'menwefeput'ojEat Christmas.: -In'facthehad:,> : . been, informed, by -an. experienced: moulder;W that trade had never' been : as dull'during the//'; past 15: years:';: AVith. respect '.to : carpenters,' ;• ; Be ;had''been'informed that Borne:6^'namea'v..; were; on ,the unemployment bobkj: andithe ; ■ number.;;would:be; increased only: ; 'that :; .!the.-jv■ iwdrkers.'knew.it'.was no use putting-,down''' : - : their names..' .'■ Of;the -large ■ number. of.. v car-:;-: ; pentersv'outVpf .'work;' it 'was' belieyed" thai; 10 •-■*■ ■por.':centv;werdl.new arrivals.; : Trade.in the:"/.: : carpentry:'line';was. ■■:'' and;Chnstchurch;'but was a";little;tette? at^;;.' i'Ainong.-.tliose.'who.;.received'Vasr;;-;.;'; as.;.agncultafalVilabpjirers : ,ihere~:were''man'y tcarpeilters;' ;K ■was'iknowny? that,persons,''who..had described .themselves■'.-', as''wpbdcuttbrs, ■.-but.wh'o. really belonged; to':]? the; carpentry traded farm ,'.:.He, was"' personally;;. ab-/ : :: :: 'qnaiii'^l:w^tn;-tie''p6MpiS'ih'.i«garjl'-;.t^.work'.r', : ' on' the 'wharves.': Numbers 'of strangers who' i:: ,applied;'.for ;^work ! -.had'J;|o^ih'im ■ .that ; -v, came'out : here'.;as farmers; or: asiagricultural; ; '.;. lahourer.s, although their e'xperience;of:sucHVv; ,Wprk, : liad extended oaly .over, •was- not 'desirable'that io colonial conditions arid would" probably, be (V: : a; ;drain-oir. the ; in-'..ithe,:twihter -i v; month's ehould be : enco'uragedjtffcome : ;tp'.New;':";' Zealand.'; He knew,. f rom;victual experience i, that;.the conditions on the-whaires-in/'Wel-', : lington.; were'harder.. than 1 they haid;.been ; fpr :|? ,ten : years. ' : Althpiigh there'.wero intermittent.-j'j-; days when most^of;the men might-find;em'»:.:: ployment,': 1 taken': bh>the/average .there:, were';-; practically~.3oo.or 400 men whp were:practi-;■;', ■cally out of work.oni thei wharves. ''AtAuck-;;,-?; land,v-ivhere. .there , ' were;: 1000; ; waterside wotkers,' : there was ; ,bnly a living.'for"6oo.-i■ i' -i''a

':: Chance' of: Work at Other Centres, >':;; ..- In <irder:thati he, might get defimte iiifprma-''"! tion aboutthe unemployed.'difficulty:;he had j .wired; the/skioretaries -of councils and had deceived the- following re-'. pUes:—"Nelson:.Trade slack;" harbour iprbyemehte!;s-just j';■ completed; scheme-'/, nearing ; /i'completion; |'whjaryes/ overcrowded; • prospect-,, of .■, the, /'. worst* winter;:; that - , kelson experienced.r against the immigration policy, of the Govern-' \'inorit; : 'espjKial^.iasAtto.pe^le : hwe':finS''ex7..: 1 tremedifficulty- in-' gettfeg.'prastant; employ-/ ;m"ent..v Christehurch: Except..females, many:; names on-.the:unemploy!s>nt';books;building \ irad(is;-,very. alackv' "Auckland: "Number of •-. unemployed—Hotel ani restaurant hands," 30; carpjeritera: (prgauised)V, 50 j carpenters (unor-;. 'ganise^)i r -50;'i;tkilors,:;50,; half-time : .being;. .TCorked;. mduldersj' 5;: builders'labourers,. 10; ■ coach workers, 2 j engineers, SO, besides; many' .others'verbose'names .dp-':tiqir,aj>pear/on'.the:: book's: .•:Greynlouth:.;2oo'men. wharvea at Christmas)ino''wprk for half that number.; ! ) large inimbe'Kof Sawmill ; hands idle;" absolute ;■ madness , ,to send;immigrantshere." Besuming,' Mr. M'Laren.said that '.the:deputation; desired to press;oa; the Minister, .the desirableness; of; stopping" assisted;^ immigration : .'altogether'; at; the; present ttimeii , ; For; the existing ,6tate : - of tirade': the tdeputotion did \ndt : wish :.to; iblamV , ; ihe".,GoVerttment'. or. its' ■ predecessors;.: They'all knew that Imperial and international: "conditions;affectedbthe.position. , : He then read; , letters which, had ..been sent to him .by two.' immigrants;,whopointed to'.the difficulty:thai/ obtained.-in/.acquiring .land. /,!. Every., effort J ■ should.;.be-h;ade; to/place ,o_n;the land those ' who'had; experience and capital.. .It could nbS : . 'be 'denied 'that -distorted ingvthe /Dpyiimon vwasjgiven;:qut.;at.Home. : ;. Many gave /up regular employment to 'come/ here./ It was known that'. incorrect "informa-, tion about ;the price of land,house .'rents, and' _ Commodities through: agencies,;and ■: in -:ttie course, of -lectures.; :.The.Government;, shpuldtake steps to disseminatethe truth in - regard/to'" thei3e ! ;matters,—-to' keep:only -thel present .literature ..in- circulation 1 ; was :'-'jiol.-i enough'. be/lost if /assisted I mmiOTtita;'\np^tf{firidm2'/prit;-thff;^Vijslate , i of ..nffairs,'.left .the i Dominion'. /The.state; of. '■. tfnde; ; &t:pfesent/would mentjn withholding .money for assisted.pke-' sages for:thp;tinie;teih&/;.vV;:V ;; /.//:/;:■/; j •.'; ;./:// a ard/Wieiteriprobable. .M £i;. ■ ■'/; : ' :Itfr.;".Biown,. who'.is: /secretary ■ to , /"theTradea/and, "Labour Council, .and■'■secretary/; to the Building Trades Labourers': ITnion, 'r said numbers' of /'immigrants had. told hiin that they, .expected ;to/find plenty of ; .work; iaTthe/Dominion.';/As; they.;had'. much/capital: they epon-became penniless, / He /had ■ that" day seen" from' 20 :- to -;25 'builders'' labourers', who/ were out. 'ol : ; ■work, and another; 25 could easily- be found. V It had. to be' remembered also' that-from .150to 180 builders' ; labourers' were at "present at seasonal.'work /'in. the country. :i .. .When;": they/-return^'.;- , -::the/<une'mp"loyed>v.-:dfficultyS Avquld be accentuated.: It" w'a's-'almost'.'cer-': tain'/that/it would L.be" a'• Mr.-: -Young,-•'secretary" : the ; ■ who was unavoidably liad*;told ?him / that 120 members ;pf ■ his iunion/fwero 'out: of: work./- The :tr'ue : rwsition'; should"'.be'. madeknown::;<?:.• /:.-.^ >■'.■;/{■■-] ■. /\;'■'■:///•-;"'""'-.: ■-';/' ■;;.; {Need; for '■ Settlement; of v the i Uandi: -i. .-to'. '.tKc(/Genflrai;': ■belonging/to-,his 'uniph sufferod mpst./wheh" there. was; depression;. becauseAthey : ,Ji'ad fa ■'■ compete;.;; against:;-, unemployed /A-workers in./ 6thor.,:tra%s.> There was need: for a Govern- ; thent'scheme'whereby', large "tracts' of '"land., folly to/oarry/on..a-sys.temv.of assisted. im-' : . migration- when: there ..was .. a; dearth of: work./■ The, industrios ■ cpiild^.-not-.'bei:relied/ uppn: to. provide .-.muohi employment.'; -Jlis- % leading, statements were; made at Home as to i the. facilities.for:acquiring:.larid r here;/'Dur-.; ing tho last- 'eighV yoare, capable men in the/ North Island' had experienced: great difficulty in, obtaining .land. 'Those, who were acquainted : ; with colonial methods' -.should- liave/tKe' .first: , chance ■ of going on the -land.; Hundreds of J labourers 'had applied for sections": but only ' in a few- instances had they/been successful. ; Itl was the: duty of-the Government to.'fihd.: work 'if'it could riotfind landforthe workers.: Tbo'Government shouldextend the co-ppera-tivii system, to , the: "singlo .men who; were in V iieed, just as'muchas the/married men. , . It , ; wa»" a position .that was increasing in diffi-Z culty with the arrival of each batch of immi- ■ grants'.;."' The meinbers of the deputation did \ not desire/ to/ : keep;lthe.- right; olasses' of l pebple 'out'.'of the ■ country: , They; recognised that the greater tho population tho more Belt-supporting would tho people become. ~ Immigration System Lax. Mr. Riloy stated that he know a number of painters had oolno out as agricultural labourers. They did not blame tho Government, bub tho shipping companies who advertised tho country. He had been nnoble to find out exactly hon these mon did get l Jheir passages. Work m tho painting trado was scarce in almost all parts of tho countrv. immigrant nainters seemod ■ohon

Informed that'there-was not-sufficient work for the painters who had been in tho country ot tho t ; rio.

Mr. Sinclair, who represented the timber norUeri, spoko on' Similar lines. Ho said that immigrants 'had told him that certain representations which wcro not in accordance with fact had been mado to tliom bj> Government agents. Then, again, workers belongmo; to industries which wero not icpresonted in tho Dominion wero assisted. Mr. Slnrk pointed out that therowas not so much building going on in "Wellington us was tho caso two jo.its ago Thero was a laigo nurabor of unoiriplojed plasterers. He could not agree with Mr, Jl'L.iren, who had stated that the Governineiit was not to blame tor tho present position of aflairs. If the erection of tho now post ofiico was commenced it would give a Jot of much-needed employment. < >

?;:;';!■; ; p^■ Ramans■ by ; an: immigrant, .;> ! ; ■i.-' .i.'A workers |S endorsed" the ; remarks of{the 'previous \spoak-' y':%'erß.'- r; He'stated?that.hei.was an assisted:.im-VS-jnigrant himself;three Misleading ■ ! J : i } - irif orm ation : had .'been''. giveii ito h hn . at: Horner ■'■!■ iV/The'Miiuster'sl'ln what'way?" , '-." , '. '.9- .i">-.;" ■.:••V^.The!'workerVvl: was;foldvtbat':l; could get; '■■-■ electrical wofkat'Napier* V Vi? 'v ;;; ?'; : -t :i ■:..-■' ■'■ : ThoMinister: Who" told you ?: ,;'' ■■ ,7 ~ '■'■-.I.\ \J.\:/ , -The'i'workeri'ivl?waß\^M^'infortoed ; ''at'' ;: thS. /High Coramissionier's office. ;/i : ::*' v ' ; : : ;^,!:

/Further remarks in.a. similar strain; were made by :avdelegate for,the grocers'-assist-: ■«nts.-':\v-';',; i - -, ; :-:;k :'.;;■' -;:.:/■: : : y :, \. ;-;-V

Iy f . a' REPLY BY MR. FOWLDS. -:A :; ft'.x^ThiS-Minister,: in,:reply., said: The question :':.'.; which has: been brought before me is certain:V;:ly ■a' very; important one.-•: In a young coun- ;?;'.:, try;like;New.. Zealarid^rwith:ats -possibilities expansion '•, under;- normal conditions, .at ,:;K:any.rate",wo ought to :be able to absorb;an- ■ a : large,V addition' tof bur population .; j;,from outside, particularly if'we get the right ..;:;'-:-sort: of-:people.:; : .; v All -■•• are! .aware thatV the. v)i : :-' birth'-rato ;ia '■) not '■■. very" high; ':■ and ftvrnaturalincrease'itf tWt vrespect. is:: not very v;;; rapid. :C I. have .paid' a"!good de'al of attention &?Vto; the .subject', since/1 took ..the portfolio of ; :: ' >' Minister,;for';:-Immigration■ i; few.;weeks ;ago, i .;.-;but: l ■,hav.e' : nbt; N had" : 'ah : . of.-'con-:sulting ; 'iwith:;\my;;cblle;aguesvin :Tegard',to the;'pplicy:pf' ; ;th<3.:Gbvernment,; because ,the V'. r , Prime.; Minister, . ; aid -fniost.i pf-the; pther/jUin-; riK;istersi;arq;but:'oF^W.ellington:in. various-p arts ::;\v<of: the .';Dbminion,;y; I' have ;.no- hesitation in; :-. -.; saying;. hbweverj ■ that; it i; would .be entirely. ft' wrpngi'fbr^'the;;Gfoverninerit -io -.add' , -.tp:;.the; i4':*ibvei>^tooked:ilabpur. : markoji::.by; the, payment Xi'of;' :'j ; imperfectly certain ;that,' : /in.- any.;., direction ;:;:;where .it is evident that' tKat:'woiild.te,.the

fiZ: pbyernment.\;wil]itake'; steps; to/: bring -it.to s-t^an/end/'iAllf^reJawaw-that itheV ; demand' if /, for/domestic at. ■■ an7;.rat6, ; :.i3 ,rsry ) :■trfr /i Z'cently,/ aZ.deputatwn/: asked :irie-; to. urge./ori ;;.;.theJ.GoTernment' the; necessity,-of.taking ; more, JM '■-. active '• steps/to;; to, «;'|-"3idera]ble;rtime.>ilie; ( .inßtructionavte/.tEe: High ; ;Whioh;:^Kj;.; : emphasised 'not; y-y/ivants; and/those,.connectedlwitli-. agricultural. ZZ/JpursuitsJ'wer^ p'fyii :iis-.doubtless';'tirue;; : that,: some ■■ have/come

.; ,;thrbugh',under ;tle;. assisted immigration : rules S; as -agricultural'; workers? : whb;'haye had .'• other .J.tradesi--';. -We; have ,condi-; .First :'oi raill'li;•;declaration; is. ''required-', frbni,;'.the,:ap- ■:;,: plicahtg guilty, of,vpei?juryv Jf: i : m\' makes;;ai"false--statemeht/.and then.other ' regarding;;;, the'-;' applicant's: 1 ' anieP' •.'-:<^eiits;-'.so';.far':.as'.'-a'^icultMal--wbrki.,is"\icon-;\.:'cernedl"are\required...:..lnVfact;;' the^Gbrern- ■ j:ment(has';brbughtvtheVmethpdsVdown ; as-fine y\na ? possiMe -. tp;:;preyent :, arij£Birt. bbnaifid& ■iCdpinesti'o'Vse'ryahtsVand'agricultural workers' v:; : ?rpid.;gbtting-.the ;benefit ■ of "assisted;;-:pas-i; «ages.,'.; i : v ;-- : ':;: ; ;;;;.-v ; - ; ' ■■■■-.•' ■■ [h ;' : :i'-}^\' : .:/- ?'>«; \}x v Nowjvl; : ; think;''.that' /thei e^is.-■; i ;¥;good : ;-; : deal'vpf^misapprehension■';as: ; :'toe; , ;the ;;number of■ipebple.;co.m_mg,out^under.'these, as'-" ■;i sistedji-passagesgJjUt.",is;,tru"e Jare ;■: -'large'numbersi .coming /but V from';'Hoirie-'tb. :; : New: Zealand, ia'nd--that;;.^^during';the "last"sis' ,;:months or;soj/the;;numbera/bjaye;■ been con-" , .; Biderably■ .than■.'.'during■•'■any;-;;cor-responding .periods;:;;•':.■■ I ] should: ; "think/!for -/some/years.'.:-,"'That;is;partly; due to causes //altbgethei/ibeyona'the/cpntrpl:'either; pKJthe ; : of^^iNew , : Zealand. :;.-;Uprto'lpeceimbbr,. 31 ,tliere : 'arriyed in/the/Db-; : .-: : ple;/,/Out..'6f;vtliat'-hum'ber./pnly; '1997'"were,' ;;selected; and'apprpxea. r ßy/fb.6,;Highi'.Cbmmiß>;' ;> 6ibnerZ;inZ,Lprita ;;-; 1103 i who? •p t number;';of' caEeslihosb/iwhb' .conie/ biit J: in./tliat'i.^way-;'are/-the' wives/an'd/familiea 'of. /Amen ; who■■hate./prevjpußly/s'ettled '.here.//:In; : :"jEbme r/we hay'p;to;haye'.'a 'guarantee.from , the'people', /:whd:;npmiiistte;i;heir; ,relatiyes/thai) t|iej y haye' /; gotiwbrk : 'f / Thisi' bf; cpWse ;':. is',: the: ' ■ th'e/ largest /number; pf;; imniK ;'u7'Efants'MmßVrbeoaiise^e < '.High\'ppmmißsioner!' ~y Eas;; instructions; that ■ soV far /as' assikted. iin-' is inigfants f /.are;Sconcern'eq,/- all ;;r;^/ori ! early/:Feßmry::/pbmestio.'seryahtß' .-/opme/'out'' at?all7seaeon"s/of?'the^:year./;: The. 7 $ cpming''io;New;.Zeala'nd. v . ; Npwi- ? i;have : looked, fv''.into' tho;meth'6ds/which''are' : adopte3-m'-ithis ; / Jindustry tci'which : th6 applicant' belongs,' there' is s *ayailabje'3pr!hiriv;/or him/from/ p/cpmingjjantl I/think",that 1 very.'littto-complaint /-can be''made|with'(respect representa- : th^'haye;been /"'lofficeMß';res|i6nsiblei. v/y/V 1 /■:;''/././/v:/7 \' V-; : 5 /^/^ChargpvAgMri3t;:Shlpp!t!B/Agar^ i-'lr JV. :'-is /.quitp/; triie ithat;; .certain:' shipping /■:^f/:/a ; ; ;;/kin ! i /;vto// ; know //.exactly:;.; in' L;;. If aturally j. theyepmpames, * are : out /to. -j make,, /'■prpfits^'.andrtUpse/whbimake/ the, representarl Jj'tions probably: get.:commissiph/on ; ,each . ■:;migrant;whbni they succeed.in getting'as' ; a p'aSr ;//Benger^^';l-supppsV;-that/'ini.the .of. /; emigration/,;;to;/ahy : .;:;cbuhtry '■ ithere;;; w§re ■ ■■'■ popple,';-.'.who'^'jwhen :,;they .^emigrated,, : , had ,;; ; : yory_.:indeni'ii|e:;and con;;;/corning;■;the/country ; fpr/.which .-;they' were/ .;sbbund. '■ I 'had/'sbmethi.ngiofi/that ..experience: wayAtb. the misrbjiroscntatioh: made by:ship-; /'.ping;'co"mpa'nies' with/the object of inducing ;/;peoplo; to/emigrate;;^ i:, position/of several. industriea -that hav.o.".been-.:;mentibhed/to-night /is,/certainly, uhsatisfac-: ■"/: t° r y* v and % for,'the ■ Gdyernment/ to ■; ;be "the /v;means;;of : .;Briiiging^peopl^ :/.further-'to ;;thal.'ovefcfowdedyiabour'markots ■ be; certainly: very./wrong.,' ; Aiiyth'ing :/. ■.™ a * ;P an ,roasbnablyi be" done, to 1 preventVsUch ; .;::a 'state,-of 'alFairS ; .wiU,;.'r. : 'am- : sur.e>-be; given' /.effebtljto'-byrrtlie; Gbyernniont.: : /Of 'cbiirseV it ;i:ather;big/6r ; der: to'expeiit the/Gbverii-:..:ment,-say,'/to 'advertise 'all byer the United :., ../Kingdom tliat iri'New Zea- - v land. It-is /not, generally; a; very wiso'thirig .-/.for -anybody ;or,:natibn/to-cry stinking fish, /I-but] certainly,, as, far/as -the 'giving of any ■. : informa.tibn:; is /concerned,': you''*can ///;rely: uppn.-;it .that, fromithe High' 'Commis;;/eionor's bffice, : rsv information I will be given' ;.;;. :with - respect\to tho' variousandustries,* exv';cepting .such- ; as;:is-;revealed : by: the figures/ ~:.;/The:Labour,'Department, will; nodbubti/have !;/-.infprmatipn/colleoted,/which'will be"-supplied V; •'to the/HiEhiCommis'sioner to ;put; him ui the' "/best possible position tomakeit clcarto' op- , 'i / ■plicants' exactly- what ia tho position in : their :vline invNew/Zealand.:sy ;i //' ■■--■. ; ; ; ; ;;• .;/v//; '■'». Amountvpf '.■■ Land/for Sottlement./ '/ -.:.:; /;Messrs/'.-Reardon/an'd'M'Laron. spoke on ; /> tho-/"-.difficulty" '. 'of./ 'getting " -land ■ -for. ;.;.'; 'settlement./;;'. The, /Govorninent '.are, .. I , :'..; may. say,;doing-as. iriuch asVit.seems/possible ~/ to•-do.'in;that;'way.v.There , is kbine.lmieappra.' ■:•■;^^■liena^6n.wh'e■n^;ypu;;Wate■tH'at : ,tb'ereVvβre.■.96o' .: ;i. anplicants for : 's6vcn. sections' in, one district. //The position- indicated - ,by. those , figures is; ,':"that, the -/sections'- .in/question: , were- particu- :/■: larly. -choice 'ones; and 'naturally,there was //.much/ competition , ,for-them;''There'- is '-quite '•."'"-.'•a lot of land—atjany rate ih'.the Auckland dis-; 'I'i: : irictj withu which I. am; most, conversant^ ■ : that CP.n be obtained on/application. : "\Vheh ':/ Vb , -block of. land is first opened-up. of-'coiirse' /'-■-it-is; put to'the ballot. If .there is a num-'//".-ber, of specially fine these are gene-

rally rushed, but any .sections that are not disposed of are then open. for. selection. In the Auckland district"there;are a large number of sections open to anyone who cares to cajl at tho Land.Offlce and,make application. .Of.. courso,: it will not be land in tho; .;•■■ neighbourhood ;.., of .Queen. Street. ' A'doputatibnist:'ls'it agricultural land? 'Mr. Fowlds (resuming): It is land that is .capable: more than: people gavo it credit for an :iho past. A good deal ofidle, land which .in my own time has been cut up;and.disposed of at a email price now commands from:£lo to £15 per acre for the goodwill of the lease alone. If people are ]ust ? looking .out, for. clear /'sections , in the vicinity, of.-, the. large, centres they are sure to -meet ,with" a.largo amount of competition; -. : , But. if they, are willing to take up land on which other settlement has started, aiid; is proving remunerative they will find suitable.land-easy to, obtain. ■'Perspnally, , I am- quite' in. sympathy with the suggestion that there should; bo restriction .of at; any raid any kind of immigration at the present, but.-that-is.likely to;.still further 'overorowd the labour market. There is no doubt that; things'are not asprosperous' in different parts.of.the' Dominion as they were a year or ;twa..:ago;.::Under-, these' circumstances it behoves the Government as far as possible tt'-'.'prevent : ;anything occurring that will accentuate the present position. I don't want to. commit ' myself- any ■ further, but, I can assure the deputation that their representations -will' be put before the Government,' and as. far as possible will bo given effect to. The views which have been given expression' to are in accordance with my own. I think '-that''for the present at; any ■ rate only domestic, servants should be encouraged. ■ ;A;member of .the deputation: .What.is.a domestic; Worker? '' '.'•.:• ■■■. _ ' . ':'} •..■•' , . Mr..;-Ep.wlds ! : (amidst'. laughter) :;■ willing; In conclusion, he remarked Jthat: be would bo only dqo happ.v to. support tho. reduction in, the number, of immigrants for whom there was l no employment.-; • .: .; .;■■..-■',: •.■.."■., ; .-■■;■. :.. ■:-. '■;['■:'}'■:£ ■ ■ Rejoinders. ■ \^\ : \ '■ Before the deputation retired, Mr. Brown asserted that it;was untrue.that thero was a' dearth of farm labour. He/had rung up several times to make/ inquiries;. Once he' -was informed that some milkers :were required. ; It was cruel to' immigrants : to bring them out to compete with people who .-had -not sufficient; ; rwork' themselves.''■ Then again the' Arbitration Court had refused .to give -the -agricultural -workers.; any protection, yet they- assisted others to come out ■toivan bverorowded market. '■ . ■;' ,'- '•'.' '. '..' Mi-i ■-ll'liareri : . said ■' that some -kinds of • farm: labour. , .we're' only seasonal work.;' He would.like the Government'-to' consider what the; men;'.whp:-were ' only ..temporarily' employed f were, going to ;do .when: tho. work, gave 'put.;;.:.'/Was it not'■"■»'■ fact :■ that; they wfluld.cro.wd info:,the cities to swelLthe numbers: of ;■ the'unemployed?: .;:,;;. .