PAPERS RELATING TO THE INTRODUCTION OF CHINESE LABOUR INTO NEW ZEALAND.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1872 Session I, D-12

D.—No. 12.

PAPERS RELATING TO THE INTRODUCTION OF CHINESE LABOUR INTO NEW ZEALAND.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OP THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OP HIS EXCELLENCY. WELLINGTON. 1872.

SCHEDULE.

o. Date. Prom To Subjeet. 1 2 Jan. 22, 1872 Jan. 27, 1872 Minister for Public Works Superintendent of Auckland Superintendents of Provinces Minister for Public Worts Inviting opinion as to the expediency of allowing railway contractors to use Chinese labour. Sees no good reason why railway contractors should be precluded from employing Chinese labour if they think fit. General feeling is against the introduction of any large number of the Mongolian race; thero is, however, no objection to a limited number, say 100 to 150. Railway contractors should be allowed to employ Chinese labour to a limited extent. Chinese labour is not desirable where other can be obtained, either European or Maori. His personal opinion is adverse to the proposal, but will consult Provincial Council if desired. As works undertaken by General Government are nearly all finished, does not consider it necessary to introduce Chinese labour. Feb. 13, 1872 Superintendent of Taranaki Minister for Public Works Peb. 3, 1872 Superintendent of Wellington Deputy Superintendentof Hawke's Bay Superintendent of Canterbury Chairman of Westland County Council Minister for Public Works Minister for Public Works Minister for Public Works Minister for Public Works 4 5 Peb. 7, 1872 6 Mar. 25, 1872 7 Mar. 6, 1872

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No. 1. Circular to their Honors the Supebintendents of Peotinces and the Chaieman of the Countt Council of Westland. (No. 20.) Sic, — Public Works Office, Auckland, 22nd January, 1872. Having in view tho large demand for labour caused by the railway and other public works now being undertaken in the Colony, and the difficulty experienced in inducing a sufficient European immigration to supply that demand, the expediency of allowing railway contractors to employ Chinese labour to a limited extent has been suggested. Before adopting such a course, or taking any steps to carry it into practical effect, I shall be obliged by an expression of your Honor's opinion as to the general expediency of such a proposal as affecting your Province, and as to the extent to which Chinese labour should be introduced. I may state that it is already evident that the want of labour will prove a serious hindrance to the economical and rapid development of the public works scheme, and unless every available means of obtaining labour be temporarily adopted, until a sufficient flow of European immigration shall have been established, great difficulty and vexatious delays will be experienced in the execution of railways and other important works. I have, &c, J. D. Oemond, Minister for Public Works.

No. 2. His Honor T. B. G-illt.es to the Hon. J. D. Oemond. (No. 366.) Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 27th January, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular No. 20, of the 22nd instant, inviting an expression of my opinion as to the general expediency of allowing railway contractors to employ Chinese labour as affecting this Province, and as to the extent to which such labour should be introduced. In reply, I beg to state that I can see no good reason why railway contractors should be precluded from employing Chinese labour in the construction of public works if they think fit. The evidence taken by the Chinese Immigration Committee last Session, shows the Chinese to be an industrious, frugal, hard-working, orderly body of men. ISo doubt they will not become colonists, but the class of ordinary " navvies " are not likely, as a rule, to make good settlers. The objection that when the Chinese leave they abstract from the Colony their accumulated savings, is I think more than counterbalanced by the saving of capital to the Colony in the cheapened construction of works, enabling more works to be performed, and thus rendering the Colony a more eligible place of settlement for the real colonist who comes desirous of making a home for himself and his family. I quite agree with you, that if the proposed public works are to be carried on only by the introduction and employment of European immigrants, economical administration and rapid development of the public works scheme, which are so essential to its success, will be almost hopeless. I have, &c, Thomas B. Gillies, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Superintendent.

No. 3. His Honor E. A. Caeeington to the Hon. J. D. Oemond. (No. 391.) Sib, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 13th Eebruary, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular No. 20, 22nd January, 1872, in reference to allowing railway contractors to employ Chinese labour to a limited extent; and you ask my opinion on the matter, and, if assented to, " the extent to which Chinese labour should be introduced." In reply, I beg leave to say that, after consulting those who are best informed on the subject, and those who are interested in the well-being and prosperity of this Province, the general feeling is against the introduction of any large number of the Mongolian race. There is, however, no objection to a limited number being brought here, say to the extent of 100 or 150. I have, &c, Ebed. A. Caeeington, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Superintendent.

PAPERS RELATING TO THE INTRODUCTION OF CHINESE LABOUR INTO NEW ZEALAND.

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PAPERS RELATING TO CHINESE LABOUR.

No. 4. His Honor W. Eizheebebt to the Hon. J. D. Oemond. (No. 519.) Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 3rd February, 1872. In reference to your communication of the 22nd ultimo, I beg to state that I brought your communication under the consideration of the Provincial Executive, and that we are unanimously of opinion that railway contractors should be allowed to employ Chinese labour to a limited extent. I have, &c, William Eitzhebbeet, The Hon. J. D. Ormond, Minister for Public Works. Superintendent.

No. 5. Mr. J. Bhodes to the Hon. J. D. Oemond. (No. 271.) Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Napier, 7th February, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular dated 22nd ultimo, relative to the employment of Chinese labour on the public works now being undertaken in the Colony ; seeking an expression of opinion as to the general expediency of such a proposal, as affecting this Province, and as to the extent to which Chinese labour should be introduced. So far as this Province is concerned, my individual opinion is that Chinese labour is not desirable where other can be obtained, either European or Native (aboriginal). The Natives will be short of food this winter, owing to the failure in part of the wheat crop and nearly all the potatoes; and, I should imagine, would be desirous to work in gangs at any description of piece work. The Chinese labour, if introduced, would not proportionately increase the public revenue, and so assist in eventually lightening the burdeu of the present race of taxpayers, as if Europeans were introduced. The Government scheme, as published and generally understood in this Colony, comprised extensive immigration from the old country and Europe, and public works. Now, if public works alone are to be the chief object of the Government, the scheme must be a partial failure. I would rather that public works should wait on the stream of emigration to be procured from Europe than to avail of Chinese labour, as the latter I look upon as of no assistance in the field of colonization ; and for the prosperity of these Islands we have mainly to look forward to the permanent occupation of the waste places by a good class of European settlers. I have, &c, Joseph Bhodes, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Deputy-Superintendent.

No. 6. His Honor W. Bolleston to the Hon. J. D. Oemond. (No. 799.) Superintendent's Office, Christchurch. Canterbury, N.Z., Sib,— 25th March, 1872.' I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter of the 22nd of January, in which you invite my opinion upon the expediency of allowing railway contractors to employ Chinese labour on the works now being undertaken in tho Colony, and as to the extent to which Chinese labour should be introduced into this Province. I took the earliest opportunity of meeting the member of the Government resident in this Province, and expressing to him the opinion I held individually, which was adverse to the proposal. Should you desire any further or more general expression of opinion, I shall be glad to invite the consideration of the subject by the Provincial Council, which will shortly be in session. I have, &c, W. Bolleston, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 7. Mr. W. H. Lahman to the Hon. J. D. Oemond. (No. 218.) Sic, — County Chairman's Office, Hokitika, 6th March, 1872. Eeferring to your letter, 22nd January, 1872, on the subject of employing Chinese labour to a limited extent in the construction of railways, and requesting my opinion as to the general expediency of such a proposal as affecting Westland, and as to the extent to which Chinese labour should be introduced, I have the honor to inform you that the public works undertaken by the General Government are nearly all finished, and therefore I do not consider it necessary that Chinese labour should be introduced into the country. I have, &c, H. 11. Lahman, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Chairman of the County Council.