SHIPPING AND SEAMEN AMENDMENT BILL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 978, 19 November 1910, Page 10

SHIPPING AND SEAMEN AMENDMENT BILL.

Sir, —Kindly allow me to put in' an emphatic protest against the selfish action of the Ward Government and Pavnament in rushing through legislation at the dictation of the city labour trusts, who are in this particular 'caso working hand in hand with a powerful steamsliip company, and thus keeping up tho fares for passengers; and tho rates for produce beyond all reason. At present it costs nearly as much to take a trip from ports in 'New Zealand to Sydney or Melbourne as it does to go to England. The trade is practically, in the hands ot one company, and thousands of people in these islands as well as myself havo been looking forward for years' to competition from these big English companies to bring down these exorbitant tares eo that we may be able to visit Sydney and Melbourne at least once in our isolated lives. In legislating. against these English companies the labour trusts and tho Government are - legislating against our own countrymen, as. thousands ot them are dependent on these ships for a living for themselves aiid their families. Yet because theso ships employ a few men whose skins are a little darker than their own, they are not to be allowed to trade to our ports only under exceptional and heavy conditions.' I would liko to ask every, thinking man and woman if it is any wonder ..that the Dominion and Commonwealth are in such a backward and defenceless state when.even tho large ships o£ our own countrymen are not allowed to trade in our seas and' ports .without the special consent of tho all-powerful labour trusts, who .control the Government and dictate the policy of this isolated country.—l am, etc., ISOLATED NEW ZBALANDER. November. 16, XDIO. .