menace to furniture TRADE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 285, 26 August 1921, Page 6

menace to furniture TRADE

CHINESE COMPETITION LEGISLATIVE PROTECTION SOUGHT A deputation, consisting of Messrs. A. Menzies and B. N. Staff (representing the furniture trade employers) and Mr. D. R. Kennedy (representing the tradesmen) met local members of Parliament (Messrs. R. A. Wright, Dr. A. K. Newman, P- Fraser, G. Mitchell, and T. M. Wilford) at the Town Hall j-esterday, to discuss informally steps to be taken to promote legislation that would bring about equality of conditions (as to hours of work and pay) between Chinese and European workers in the furniture trade. A draft copy of proposed amendments to the Factories Act was submitted. Mu R. A. Wright, who presided, said that it seemed that the Chinese came to New Zealand and set up in the trade, as they had a perfect right to ’do, but did not work under the same conditions as lluropeans. The deputation’s desire was to introduce legielattan that would ensure that the Chinese would work under award conditions. Mr. Menzies stated that in February last there were two Chinese furniture factories in Auckland) to-day there wero six. They desired/to bring under the notice of the Government tho way in which the trade was menaced, as the Chinese had practically captured it in Australia. In jorder to get a basis of legislation they had secured copied of the Victorian, New South Wales, and Queensland Acts dealing with tho question. They wished to bo absolutely fair to the Chinese, but wanted an assurance by legislative enactment that they would only be permitted to work under the same conditions as Europeans. They also asked that furniture made by Chinese should be stamped tharly "Made by Chinese.” ‘ If made partly by Chinese and . partly by Europeans, it should be stamped accordingly, so that the public would know what they were buying. Be had sufficient faith in tho public to think that they would prefer to buy fur-, niture made by British workmen. Queensland was the only State in Australia whore the Chinese had not obtained 1 completed control of the trade, and he thought it was better to act now than wait until a similar state of affairs prevailed in New Zealand. Both employers and employees wero combined in tho matter. He spoke for the whole of the employers of the Dominion. Mr. Kennedy said it was not a party question. The Chinese were cpming into the trade and competing against European workers at a time when the cost of living was very high. Australian legislation on tip subject had not been altogether successful, and in NewSouth Wales amendments to the 1912 Act had' been published. The chief clauses in the draft Bill, ho explained, had been based on the Queensland Act, and they thought it would meet tho case. New South Wales had found flaws in its Act, and was proposing to amend them. The amendments included the stamping clause. The New South Wales Minister of Labour, after hearing a deputation with regard to the amendments’, had stated that' he felt inclined to endorse them. They -were Dot seek--ing to shut out the Chinese from tho trade, but only wished to impose on them the conditions European tradesmen worked under. Mr. Mitchell asked whether they intended to go on with the Bill if the Government declined to take it up. Mr. Kennedy said that they hod! not considered that point. They did not anticipate the Government’s refusal. Dr. Newman said that a Bill amending the Factories Act was to come before Parliament this session. / Mr. Wright said that it was proposed to bring the matter before the Minister, with a’ request that tin Government should introduce the measure. Dr. Newman said he was in sympathy with tho deputation’s ideas. An amending Bill was in preparation, and there was little doubt that it would go through before Christmas. Mr. Mitchell asked the deputation if they did not feel that the Chinese influx should be stopped altogether. A measure had been put through last session enabling the, Government ' to exclude Asiatics. . .

Mr. Menzies said he was of opinion that that should be done, but he could not speak on the point on behalf of the Now Zealand employers. It was decided to deputationise the Minister of Labour on the question.