LABOUR ON THE WHARVES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3189, 13 September 1917, Page 4

LABOUR ON THE WHARVES

TALK ABOUT GERMANS.' A question was asked in the House of Representatives-by tho member for' Napier (Mr, J. V. Brown), in which & suggestion was made that Germans hayo influence on the Wellington wiunrvea. Mr. Brown asked tho Prime Minister whether he will have an inquiry held in connection with the engagement of labour on the Wellington wharves by tho Union Steam Ship Company and other shipping companies as to why it is they give the'first ■ choice of engaging labour . to -un'naturalised Germans, and also how is it that the gangers picked are often Germans and get higher wages than the Britisher.

The Prime Minister replied: I am illformed that the statement that tho Union Steam Ship Company or other shipping obmpairUp give the first ehoica when engaging labour to unnaturalized Germans has nqj'qundation, nor is there any reason for believing that gangers chosen are often German and get lusher wages than British subjects. Instructions -were givon some time ago that no nnnaturalised enemy alien was to bo employed on the wharves or about tha shipping. The police have from timo to time made investigativn as to whether unnaturalised enemy aliens were so _ cmployed, and they have been specially instructed to inquire into and report upon the matters mentioned by the honourable member.