IMPORTATION OF COOLIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1805, 18 July 1913, Page 6

IMPORTATION OF COOLIES.

. questi6n in'parliament. Tlio question of the immigration of Indian coolies into New Zealand was raised in the House of ltepreseutatives yesterday afternoon. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont), addressing tlio Prima Minister, stated that there was an influx of Indian coolies into New Zealand. Ho understood a large number wero landing at Auckland, but lie would lilto tlio number to bo ascertained, with a view to preventing nu undue number coming into tlio country. These coolies wero prohibited from entering Australia, but oould land in New Zealand by passing a very meagre educational test, l>ecauso they were British subjects. lie also understood that tlio Iwats coming to Auckland from Fiji down an average of twelve coolies each time, and on ono occasion as many as twenty-eight had come. His information might be wrong, but he wanted to know what tlio position was. Largo numbers of coolie 9 were' now being taken from Calcutta to Fiji to work 011 tlio sugar plantations at the rate of J.?, per day. When these men cam© to New Zealand they found they could lnnd hero and get a much higher rate of wages. Personally, ho waa very anxious to see that no undue number came in, and, if possible, ho would have them totally prohibited from landing. Tlio Prime Minister said that this was the first that he had heard of the matter. •Ho had no knowledge of any of tho coolies landing, at' Auckland, or any "Other port ■in tlio Dominion, but he would have inquiries made into tho matter. Sir Walter Buchanan (Wairarapa) said that tho coolies wero a danger in the country districts.