THE "LAUNDRY" BILL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 681, 4 December 1909, Page 13

THE "LAUNDRY" BILL.

V /PROTEST BY: THE CHINESE." "INCONSISTENT. WITH THE 'OPEN . DOOR' POLICY." : -.- ' ; ; ; Forty-five Chinese . laundrymen ; residing :■ in ■Wellington have forwarded 1 . to thd '.House of ' Representatives a'.petition of protest'againljt I the proposals affecting the laundry industry'in, the Factories .Amendment-Bill. ,'..-.* -■<.■.■: The petitioners state that, attracted- by tho widespread-fame of : New Zealand as a country where, a working man could find employ-'; ment, at-a rcasonaplo reward, they Bettled here. -When they -paid the poll tax. they believed .that'ithey would be 'allowed-to pursue their avocations.on even terms.and in friendly; rivalry with tho other factors of .the brother-; hood of man, and that they would bo able to eahi tho money 1 necessary .in many, cases'for' the maintenance' and support of: aged parents'. iTh'ey established small ■■■ laundries whore';, any person could get washing done in small quantities. ■;' The Bill which had: been introduced was;designed to. prevent them carrying on hand; washing unless at.such' prices' as would very much exceed the prices paid ;to steam laundries. They submitted that the enforced limi-. tationof tho hours.of labour to not exceeding' 8£ in one day would'work unfairly, because of ! the intermittent nature of the business. 'Their experience was that'there was generally a rush of business on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, With the":obvious ; intention of- securing clean, clothes for Saturday and Sunday, while on Saturday, Monday,' and Tuesday comparatively little work'.. offered:-.- The compulsory closing of.the office -or shop of a 'laundry' would make it 'very inconvenient 'for the workman. to .leave or, : call for. ■ his washing/because he was usually on his way to work befbro 7.45 a.m., and sometimes he did hotleavo off .until.G p.m. .. , .'!; v.. ; '- v ;;-V--In conclusion, the petitioners point out that legislation -designed to -create a discrimination, between the Chineso ■ and people:, of ' other nationality was -inconsistent .with the opendoor policy which -had been thrust on the .Chinese nation: by the Western nations.; They prayed that the Bill would, be ,amended; to .permit laundrymen to work at their'trade at! least .fifty-four hours during, the week; and to allow washing to be received and delivered up to 10 p.m. on Saturday and up to 9 p.m. on other days.'■;; '•■■'-'■',' ■'■ •■''.'' ■* According ;,to another . petition, '-. signed. • by. about a,score of wage-earning men, tho provisions of the Bill will tend to increase the cost of procuring the Washing of clothes, and thereby make personal cleanliness an expensive luxury. ' They go on to say; that thoy are at. work mostly during the:hours prescribed: for the opening of laundries, and, if' they. ; .. aro' unabla to deliver • clothes for washing or to receive washed clothes-before 7.45 - a.m. ,'or 1 after 7 p.m. on any day, .they must'inour-the expense.. of paying a special messenger. The prayer of their petition is! that tho Bill should not .bo passed.,- '■'.--, ...