POLYNESIAN LABOR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5390, 6 July 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

POLYNESIAN LABOR.

(From the Queenslander, June 22.)

The new Polynesian Laborers Bill, introduced by Mr. Douglas, is now before us, and we think that it will by most people be considered an improvement on the present law. It is not, like the Bill which was introduced last session, a mere emendation of the old Act; it repeals it, and then proceeds to re-enact the portion of that law which it is found desirable to retain.

It differs from the Act which was proposed last year in two important particulars. * It does not confine Polynesian labor to the district within thirty miles of the sea coast. With this alteration we agree. It would have been hard in some oases to define the exact boundary of that district, and in restricting the employment of Polynesians to’agricultural labor the Bill now before Parliament will confine it to the coast districts without affording the opportunity for dispute about" the boundary of those districts. ■ The second difference avhich we find between this and .last year’s Bill is that it does not prohibit Polynesians from acquiring and carrying firearms, nor other men from selling these to them. We feel rather doubtful as to the propriety of this concession. Thera is certainly no good reason for preventing these men from taking firearms avith them when they leave our shores ; but we do not think it desirable that they, should be armed whilst living amongst us. A repetition of. such outrages as occurred at Maryborough two years ago would revive the cry for the disarmament of these men, and it would be carried into effect. Now, we do not think that our laws -should he hurriedly passed, under the influence of panic, to meet particular oases. It is evident to every one that if these semi-savages, of whom we have several thousands amongst us, are allowed to carry arms, murderous outrages will occur more or less frequently. No objection was ever made to the disarmament of Polynesians in the colony. In fact the Maokay planters disarmed their own men. But, objection having been made to Mr. Douglas’s regulation, by which they were prohibited from taking back firearms to their islands, the Premier, with his fatal facility for giving up more than is demanded, proposes to permit the islanders in the colony full liberty to acquire and carry arms. As the Bill stands now, it differs from the existing Act principally in the precision with which it defines the authority of the Government agents and inspectors, . There are, how* ever, two very important amendments of that Act. One is found in that clause which restricts the employment of these laborers to tropical agriculture; and the other is that which makes a mortgagee liable for the wages and return passage money of the laborers on an estate of which he may take possession. Wo entirely approve, of the principle of both these 'amendments, and think that if the Bill passes as it now stands it will be a very great improvement on the existing law. There are, however, one or two points in which we consider it may still be susceptible of improvement. The definition of “ tropical or semi-tropical” agriculture is not satisfactory, since the Govornor-iu* Council is to have power to declaro from time to time what products come under this classification. It would bo better to strikeout the words “ tropical or semi-tropical,” and place all the agriculturalists on the same footing as far as relates to the employment oithis labor. Again, that clause which- prohibits an employer from advancing part of his wages to any laborer during the terra of his service, unless the payment is made in the presence of an inspector, will give considerable dissatisfaction to those laborers who have been long enough in the colony to learn the, use of money. Many of the Polynesians now employed in Queensland understand how to spend their money just ns well as white men do, and they will not approve of any legislation which -will prevent their employers from paying them from time to time when they ask for money. We must bo careful not to harass these men by the excessive care which wo - take of them. 'lt is not the province of the Legislature to interfere between employer and employed to causa discontent. These, however, .are very minor details, and on the whole wo may say that the Bill will, we think, bo accepted by the people

of the colony as a decided improvement of the existing law, and we hope that it rnay meet with a favorable reception in the Assembly and pass quickly.. • -