HOUSING OF FARM WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 934, 29 September 1910, Page 8

HOUSING OF FARM WORKERS.

: A COMPLAINT PEOM CANTEKBUEY, DISCUSSION IN PAELIAMENT. -■, The: other day Mr.; MTjaren,". M.P. for "Wellington East, asked the Minister for . .- '■'- Labour, when it was . intended .to; provide " proper, regulations under the Agricultural; l Labourers'. : aud- 'hayo'. '' the', provisions of - the - Attt fully' applied ... to' the- proper :protection'of the;.workers , affected. \ : ■■ ■ ' 'Replying in" the -House ■of Eepresenta:j; tives.: yesterday, ■ the "Hon, J. A.; Millar •stated"l do not deem it necessary, at ; iV all .events for 'the: present, ;to incur, the: ;' large '.amount .of . that would .'be entailed •in "carrying ■ out a complete system . cif l , inspection •of : tlie : accommoda- ? .v r ti6n' ; for;; agricultural':labourers .jtbroiiijfc.. • oiit New. Zealand. As I have in-vV.-.tiinated ito the .honourable member, since .. the Act .was passed" .the Department' has -■? made full inquiries ' into any ; definite complaiiits . made, and has taken. ..what:- : ' ever actiou ' has; been .found : necessary. .- Any. fuithcr complaints that . may'. .bs ' - made from' time- to time will, of. course, • be similarly 'dealt . with; by the -'Depart-' ;• ment."- .. v j;'" ;■;■\ ■■•'■■■ W>.f:'' Discussing the reply, Mr. M'Laren,, •V -'later,Ssaid -that :.whilst the Act was- on the .Statute-book, the -,' workers affected , co'ttld : ;hot; ; bring . their '-grievances. before 'Court :, of;, Arbitration.', It was only; a v v pretence -of an Actj .and- .'thQ way .iu '■ i' vhicli ; the ..workers ;wefe''.;badgercd.;abput {*:.:.:JivM.'cruel. ; just (' :'dettling . with".:a ; case,'.w'hiQhr of. hundreds of others. The men's wharo SvasVrift! x Sit. -Gin., and it was (lit. 4'i high !.iii the'. centre. : Thero were • four ■: ' builksi' in ship fasbion,: on - One ' side.. < In addition to ;a'bench,V<which*, .did-.sen; vjco as a table, thero was ■ also -a stove •V; tini the whare. sThree" men ' slept in : the wharej-: and •'.from/'six'tp-^eight- there; :^:in''*;turn-;^'.'"'''v;'^ .. Mr.'Witty: Where is^the.station? . ,',' Mr. M-"l.aren: In-Canterbury.. , . - , 7 -Mr.' Witty:. Who is the .owner? . '' . Jlr; McLaren: 1 don't know. ' ,: 'v , the:. letter y'.'to.-yo'u? . - ; v'-. Mr.'." M'Laren: -Mr.' .Kennedy,- secretary, > : .'v:of', the: Canterbury Agricultural, Labourers'; :' •. Union..; • . '. ' : Pr.°.9e^iiig,>.Mr.;«;M.%ar^^ ; sa.id i ; that.'it : could'not be expected that officers bf ~:the union would do' any;dirty work! in the .'4',way;Vof. spj4hg on behalf, ol' the- Depart;-• ment.*.:' Tnis was one of'.the • measures, which tho Government claimed to bo ; humanitarian in: character.Arid yet he ' had been informed in .I ho reply to his rs; 'it.was -npkthey.iritention of, flie ;Goverriment t to . have' iit' admiriistflred;'. K L could:-iiofisee : : why"'the" workers;' had, .'•not'complained, to the Department. iMr;f Scott - (Tuapekajx'declared . that , the". .'. . letter;was an iihjustifie'd "reflection on the farmers i'n Canterbury., ■ J' ' Mr. Hardy (Selwyn) .-assured the House. , truthrin . the ; 'statements in.. tlie..-^letter.: - .which had been , quoted. : ; The" fdrm ; ! :.;,wbrkei : s : invCahferb'ury.. housed ; —iis'well housed as'any in the Dominion. • • of- the writer- of tho letter' .. should be' disclose'd.V .' :•; ' -. '{■; MrffiEussell , be - laid' on ■ the :. . table.'of .-the. House. ■ ■ said.that it was '. /■not '-.the; -first;occasion;,: on .ivhichr similar , !statements liad been, proved iintrue. ■ ' : McLaren said that he had given tho • ;-. : Eame;of .the writer, of the. letter to him.