STATEMENT REFUTED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10292, 29 May 1919, Page 6

STATEMENT REFUTED

ALLEGED IMMORAL CONDITION'S ” IX FIJI. Press Association. GREYMOUTH, May 28. Some time in February last a statement'emanating from, Mr Howard, of Christchurch) a. prominent member of the Labour-Party,..was published in the newspapers of -the Dominion with reference to immoral conditions prevailing amongst the industrial labourers of Fiji. These conditions, it -was said, which were as bad as the alleged nationalisation of women in Russia, were tolerated under the British flag, therefore the British, people had no right -tp-.cutic.isc -.JJplshqvjk'Si

A resident of Greymouth wrote to the Colonial Secretary of Suva and" foiwarded him a copy of Mr Howard’s statement. Ho has.just received the following reply; “Inform you that statement that when married man and his* w'ife - go out to Fiji (under indentured labour) "and that when he gets there he is at once told that ho must let his wife be used by other men, is untrue. Under ordinance No. 1, 1892, provision is made for the protection of newly-married immigrants, as veil as others, and section 17 of the i rdinance provides for . a heavy penalty in respect to any person interfering with the wife of an immigrant. The provisions of this section is exulainod by tbo immigration officers to immigrants on arrival in the colony.”