PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. No. 11.

Evening Star, Issue 2947, 30 July 1872, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. No. 11.

INTRODUCTION OF CHINESE LABOR, The circular which found its way into print some mouths ago, and excited tonsiderable notice at the time, from the Minister of Public Works suggesting the employment of Chinese labor on the railway works, and the replies of the Superintendents, form a Parliamentary paper. Mr Ormond's c rcular, it will be recollected, invited an expression of opinion from each Superintendent as to the general expediency of enabling railway contractors to employ Chinese labor to a limited extent, and it drew attention to the fact that the difficulty of obtaining a sufficient supply of European labor, either in the Colony or by immigration, was likely to prove a serious hindrance to the economical and rapid development of the public works scheme. At the same time Mr Ormond gave it to be distinctly understood that jjlie only suggested the employment of Chinese labor as a temporary expedient, to avoid vexatious delay in the construction of important works, and until a sufficient how of European immigration could be established. The first answer received was from the Superindendent of Auckland, who declared that he saw no good reason why rail- ' way contractors should be precluded from empolying Chinese labor if they desire to do so. Mr Gillies admits that Chinese laborers are not likely to become colonists, but he balances this by the assertion that the ordinary “navvies” are not as a rule likely to make good settlers. The objection that the Chim se ultimately abstract their accumulated savings from the Colony is, JMr Gillies thinks, more than counterbalanced by the saving of capital to the Colony likely to be effected by the cheapened construction of public works, enabling more works to be performed, and thus rendering the Colony a more eligible place of settlement for the real Colonist, who comes desirous of making a home for himself and family. In conclusion, Mr Gillies agrees with Mr Ormond, that if public works are to depend on the introduction aud employment of European labor, economical administration and rapid development, both essential elements of success in the public works scheme, will be almost hopeless. The Superintendent of Taranaki declares that public opinion in his province is against the introduction of any large number of Mongolians, but thiV he has no objection to try an instalment to the extent of 10(1 or 150, The Supciintcmlent of Wellington says that he and his Executive are unanimous in chinking tfiat railway contractors should be allowed to employ Chinese to a limited extent j hut he docs not in any way define what that extent should be. The Superintendent of Canterbury expresses himself as being personally averse to the employment of Chinese. The DeputySuperintendent of Hawke’s Day (Mr i. Rhodes) thinks that Chinese labor is not desirable when any description of labor can be procured, and he urged the employment of Maori labor. He also declares that he would rather public works should wait for the introduction of European labor than that Chinese labor should housed to exp<dite their construction. Mr Lahmanu, the County Chairman of Westland, takes a very local view, and as the public works undertaken by the General Government in Westland are nearly all finished, he declares that he does not consider it necessary that Chinese labor should be introduced. Ho official replies were received from the Superintendents of Kelson, Marlborough, or Otago. The Superintendent of Nelson, however, made known his sentiments on the subject through the medium of a Nelson newspaper. The Superintendent of Otago ’communicated to the Resident Minister his strong objection to the employment of Chinese labor; aud the Superintendent of Marlborough explained in the House the other day that he had never replied to the circul r for the very sufficient reason that he had never received it.