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Dunstan Times, Issue 889, 2 May 1879, Page 2

According to the Mount Ida Chronicle.tcn separate contracts for the construction of in all one hundred and two chains extension of the Mount Ida water-race, have been lot to Chinamen. Mr Glen, one of the members of the water-race trust, lodged a protest against Chinamen getting all the contracts. The names of the various tenderers, and the respective amount of each tender is given in the local paper, and on analysing the same we find that the accepted tenders amount in all to L 226 2s, and that the next lowest tenders, those of Europeans, amount to LHI7 Ids, or a difference in all the work of

L9I 16s, an increase of nearly one-third. Though there is so much difference in the

total cost the question arises—Have the Trust acted wisely in accepting the tenders of these aliens in preference tothtEuropeans? The Mount Ida Chronicle in a small paragraph referring to the question sounds hut a very uncertain note, and while admitting “ that it is agreat hardship Europeans out of employment—some of them heads of families—should he foreed out of the labor market through the competition of an alien race, says we no not see that the Committee would have been justified in acting differently entire circumstances, as the matter had been discussed at a previous meeting m hen all the membe.s were present.” From no one point of view can we agree with the Trust in the course taken, in fact, we'look upon it as little short of a betrayal of the trust reposed in them. By the employment of the Chinese iittlemoreis certain than that the various pieces of work will be done, and the money paid, but what guarantee is there that it will be done properly ; the only answer to this can be, none. Who is Hock Fan or Ah Sow, have they any settled habitations or stake in the district or the County to fall back upon in the event of any breach of the Contract ? But this is not the only or the worst feature of the case, the European is bet a, ed. Of the European tenderers there are doubtless some who were amongst the pioneers of the Mount Ida gold-field, and who in anticipation of deriving some benefit from the race cither by assisting to construct it, or by obtaining a share of the wa( er, were induced to remain on the field, yet, when the opportunity occurs, because forsooth they ask for but a fair day’s pay for honest and good work, they are refused, andj the offers of the heathenlChince for cheap, and in all likelihood bad work accepted. We do not say but that the Chinaman can do equally as good work as the European, but in this particular case, we affirm that the chances of getting honest work was in favor of the European, from the fact that his means of subsistence in a great measure depends on this race, and again, being settled on the spot with his family around him, he would be more likely to do it. The course taken by the Mount Ida Water-race Trust in this matter is, but to say the least, questionable, and in their further carrying out of their duties, it is to be hoped they will not fall into a similar error. Our remarks are not so much pointed at the Trust, but to show all other public bodies that their actions are being carefully watched, ami that the feeling against recognising John Chinaman as a brother is fast gaining ground.