INDUSTRIAL LABORERS IN FIJI.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 May 1919, Page 8

INDUSTRIAL LABORERS IN FIJI.

STATEMENTS CONTRADICTED. By Telegraph.'—Press Association; Greymouth, Last Night. Some time in February last a statement emanating from Mr. Howard, of Christehureh, a prominent member of the Labor Party was published in the newspapers of the Dominion, with reference to the immoral conditions pfe failing amongst the industrial laborers of Fiji, These conditions, which wero as bad aa the alleged nationalisation of women in Russia, were tolerated under the British flag, therefore the British people had no right to criticise the Bolsheviks. The president of the Greymouth branch of the Labor Party, wrote to the Colonial Secretary at Suva, and forwarded him a copy of Mr. Howard's; statement. He has just received the following reply: "Inform you that statement that when a man is married he and his wife go out to Fiji' (under indentured labor) and when he gets there lie is at once told that lie must let his wife bo used by other men, is untrue. Under Ordinance !No. I, 1592, provision it' made for the protection of newly-married immigrants, as well as others, and section 17 of the ordinance provides a heavy penalty in respect to the pay of any person interfering with the wife of an immigrant. The provisions of this section are explained by the immigration officers to immigrants on their arrival in the colony."