COLORED DOMESTICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 45, 15 August 1911, Page 3

COLORED DOMESTICS

IMPORTED ISLAND BOYS. REVERSION TO BLACK SLAVERY ALLEGED. Auckland, August 11. For some time past Auckland mistresses, faced by the problem of obtaining efficient help in the house, have been getting boys from Niuo Island, which is one of New Zealand's dependencies. There has not been a great number of these "boys" imported, for the reason that it is difficult to induce them to leave their island home, and their parents will only allow them to leave on being assured of good mistresses. They are engaged for about three years' service, and payment is made not to the ''boys" but to their parents. These ''boys" are splendid servants; they are' obedient and willing, anil readily adapt themselves to all the requirements of domestic duties. Strangely enough, Niue girls are »f no use for domestic work. They stay at home, and earn good money making hate, for which the Xiue women are famous.

There arc possibly a dozen or more of tlie.se "boys" performing domestic duties here, and if more could be obtained they would be snapped up by people who have learned of their usefulness; hence the alarm expressed by the. Auckland Union of Domestic Servants. At their last meeting it was stated that mistresses were importing boys from the islands on a three-years' agreement, and it was stated that the wages paid were only about a quarter of what mistresses were compelled to give white girls. The salary was not paid to the ''boys'' but to the parents in the islands, and this was considered to be resorting to the black slavery of old.

• During the discussion it was mentioned that Queensland had stopped the Kanaka traffic simply because it was slavery, and it was felt that if this kind of work were introduced into Xew Zealand a protest would bo raised from every labor union. A letter will be sent to Mr. D. McLaren, M.P., for Wellington East, asking him to raise the question in the House as to whether the Government is cognisant of this importation of black labor.