KIPLING'S SECRET VISITOR.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9170, 13 June 1908, Page 3

KIPLING'S SECRET VISITOR.

that were originally published in the London Morning Post, Mr Kipling tells the following among other Canadian experiences:— A little later I had occasion to go through a great and beautiful city between six and seven of a crisp morning. Milk and fish, vegetables, etc., were being delivered to the silent houses by Chinese and Japanese. .Not a single white man was risible on that chilly job. Later still a man came to see me, without too publicly giving his name. He was in a small way of business, and told me (others had said the same thing) that if I gave him away his business would suffer. He talked for half an hour on end. “Ami to understand, then,’’ I said, “that what you call Labour absolutely dominates this part of the world?” He nodded. “That ic is difficult to get skilled labour into here?” “Difficult? My God! If I want to get an extra hand for my business —I pay Union wages, of course—l have to arrange to get them here secretly. I have to go out and meet them, accidentally-like, down the line, and if the Unions find out that he is coming, they, like as not, order him back east, or turn him down across the border. ” “Even if he has his Union ticket? Why?” “They’ll tell iiim that labour conditions are not good here. He knows what that means He’ll turn back quick enough. I’m in a small way of business, and I can’t afford to take any chances fighting the Unions.” “What would happen if you did?” “D’you know what’s happening across the border? Men get blown up there —with dynamite.” “But this ain’t across the border” “It’s a sight too near to be pleasant. And witnesses get blown up too. You see, the Labour situation ain’t run from our side the line. It’s worked from down under. You may have noticed men were rather careful when they talked about it?” “Yes, I noticed all that.” “Well, it ain’t a pleasant state of affairs. I don’t say that the Unions here could do anything to you—and please understand, I’m all for the rights of Labour myself. Labour has no better friend'than me—l’ve been a working man, though I’ve got a iliovMnoss of my own now. Don’t run R the idea that I’m against K JNkmr—will you?” in the least. I cau see that, merely find that Labour’s a % ■. Mr—er — inconsiderate, somer r what happens across the ! -i suppose they’ve told you WS&x, little fuss with the Japanese in ■Vancouver- was worked from down Eunde \ haven’t they? I don’t think |,our t ra people ’ud have done it by f themselv s. ” . “I’ve heard that several times. Is lit quite sporting, dc you think, to lay the blame on another country?” “You don’t live here. But as was saying— if we get rid of the Japs to-day, we’ll be told to get rid of someone else to-morrow. There’s no limit, sir, to what Labour wants. None J” t , . “I thought they only want a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work?” ‘ YTlaat may do in the Old Country. T*2#do.” how does the country like ''sKra about sick of it. It don’t fßpmch iu flush times —employ - Mb'aiost anything sooner than rL>rk—but when we come to a Myou’ll hear something. We’re W land—i» spite of everything /TTake ont —but we’re held up at I jpurn by Labour. Why, there’s A ’iSses on businesses which gktf of mine—in a small way like tq start. Businesses jHylry direction—if they was only to start in. But they r “Yhat’s a pity. Now, what do you think about the Japanese question?” “I don’t think. I know. Both political parties are playing up to the'Labonr vote —if you understand what that means. ” I tried to understand. “And neither side’ll tell the truth —that if the Asiatic goes, this side o f the Continent’ll drop out of sight unless we get free white immigration. And any party that proposed white immigration on a large sca.e ’nd be snowed under next election. I’m telling you what politicians think. Myself, I believe, if a man stood up to Labour not that I’ve any feeling against Labour, and just talked sense, a lot of people would follow him quietly, of conrse. I believe he ocnld even get white im™l- - after a while. He’d lose the first election. . . • • re about sick'of Labour**’ I wanted you to know the truth.” . “Thank you. And you don’t think any attempt to bring in white immigration wonld succeed?” “Not if it didn’t suit Labour. You can try it if you like, and see what happens.”