COLOURED LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2991, 31 January 1917, Page 6

COLOURED LABOUR

HINDUS IN NEW ZEALAND. A false impression appears to have been created in some quarters by th© publication of a paragraph to the effect that the Minister of Internal. Affairs had "given instructions that in the event of any coloured labour being employed anywhere in the Dominion the samo rates of pay should obtain as for Europeans." The statement had its origin in some cornyspondonce hetween the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Federation of Labom, and does not mean that th& Government is contemplating the introduction of coloured labour under any circumstances. The Minister's assurance has been divorced from its context in a misleading way. Eeforring to this matter yesterday the Minister of Internal Affairs (this Hon. G. W. Russell) said that on September 5 of last year he received » letter from the Wellington Trades and Labour Council drawing his attention to the arrival of Hindus in New Zealand, and mentioning-.that the Wellington Wharf Labourers' Union had declined to admit Hindus to membership. The council suggested that the influx of Hindus would create social and economic problems'of a serious character. . A week or two later ttie Minister received from the Federation! a letter mentioning the same master, and asking for a statement regarding the number of Hindus who had entered New Zealand. The. Minister replied stating that 135 Hindus had come into New Zealand in 1913, 257 in 1914, 13 in 1915. and 48 in 1916 (eight months), while 68 had departed in 1915, and 17 in th© first eight months of 1916. The actual number resident in the Dominion:, would be shown by the oensus returns. . , ~ , ,i The Federation of Labour thanked! the Minister for his information; and asked him to keep in touch with the subject, and to take steps to ensure that Hindus employed in New Zealand wro given the same rates of wages and general conditions as white workers. Mr. Russell referred tW point to the Acting-Minister of Labour the Hon. W. H. Hemes), and re- . caved tho following reply:- Communoattons have been I* **« Labour Department to the officer* '« Auckland and Wellington cnllmg their attention to tho matter, and directing them to Ree that if Hindus, ployed industries governed by labour taro or awards, they are given the same and conditions as often nersons " This statement provided tKsi. of the W c™tly-pußbshea. i* ference to 'coloured labour.