KANKA LABOUR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3101, 31 May 1892, Page 2

KANKA LABOUR.

(BY EUvCTIUC Tr.I.KOKAI'U.—COPYRIGHT). London, May 2 . In the House of Commons, to-day, Baron do Worms, Political Secretary of the Colonial Office, stated that tho motion carried in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, on Wednesday last, viewing with disapprobation the introduction of Kanaka, labour into Queensland, referred to a subject which the groat colonies must themselves settlo without Imperial intervention. J. Bryco. M.P. for Aberdeen, said it would be u serious mistako if Lord Knutsford disallowed tho Polynesian Labour Act passed by the Queensland. Legislature, but tho Imperial Parliament should bo able to make tho colonial Government enforce sufficient additional regulations with regard to (ho treatment of natives. Mr Balfour assured tho member that the workingof the Act would bo closely watched, tho Homo Governfiient being fullv alive to their responsibility in tho matter. The uin.endu.ieut was rejectod by 160 to 67. May 28. In tho House of Commons a long and conflicting discussion rook place on the proposed introduction of Kanaka labour into Queensland. In tho course of the discussion Mr Balfour stated that the Government were fully aware that abuses had arisen in the past, but tho steps taken to present a repetition of thorn would tend in the favourable direction of the labour traffic.

The Gladstonian leaders,or rather those of the Liberal parry, privately declare that they are not in any way connected with the Opposition extremists. Sir J. h\ Garrick, Agent-General for Queensland, in a letter to the Times, declares that the statement made by 3lr 8. Smith, in the Mmiso of Commons, to tho effect that 10,000 aborigines in Queensland were massacred, and that men, twenty yeors ago, received a permit from the Government for killing blacks, wfis grossly calumnious and an insulting lio. Tho Times says tho leaders of tho Liberal party are pleased at tho discussion in tho II mso of Commons with regards to the Queensland Government and the introduction of black labour to that colony, and consider that in tho event of the Liberal win at the general elections the question will force a quarrel with most independent Australian colonies.