W. PBYOE.J

7

I.—9c.

the Bill at all: the conditions are practically the same, with the exception that there are these restrictions for male employees and some others regarding exceeding the hours of work They suffer restrictions under the Bill, and say, " If the clause is going to deal effectively with Chinese laundries, we are prepared to suffer; but it will not do that, and we are not prepared 'to suffer that." 4. The disadvantage on the Chinese side is that they have to close their shops at a certain hour, and cannot receive their delivery of washing. That would hinder their customers, and the customers will have to send their washing to the European laundry, to the advantage of your side and the disadvantage of the Chinese?—Well, let us work it out: Take Mr Lock's statement—He said there was one Chinese laundry with four employees, and six with two. Supposing they cannot get clear of it, they are only seven, but the other eight, with two working, will be in a great majority of cases two partners. They can quietly engage separate rooms for their work so that the Bill will affect only seven, and five will get clear of it. I suppose that in stating this 1 am showing our friends the way to dodge it. 5 Mr Eraser ] If it did have a place, it would mean increased expenditure in the matter of rental and appliances?—Probably that would be the cheaper Mr Lock has told us that it is a business that does not require any expenditure of capital. 6. The Chinese Consul.] Do the European laundries receive and deliver stuff before 8 in the morning and after sin the afternoon ?—lf the carriers do it, they are restricted to 47A workinghours under the award, and they have to be paid overtime. If shops are kept open for the purpose of receiving or delivering, they are restricted by the Shops and Offices Bill to fifty-two hours 7 Do you think if hours are prescribed they will be as severe to the Chinese as to the Europeans l—L should be afraid to stand up and say the hours of work should be increased We are not asking for any increase in the working-hours. 8. But the hours of delivery and receiving are not limited?—You are putting aside the carriers. r b 9. Where drivers are employed to deliver ?—They are restricted to 47* hours right throughout the Dominion ° 8 10. Do they deliver after 5 o'clock?—They may, but they can only work 47* hours throughout tne week under their award. b 11. What about working until 10.30 on Saturday night?-That may be, but if a man's time has gone oyer 47* hours, then there is time and a half for it. Then, in regard to the denots where people bring their stuff and go for it, they are controlled to a greater or lesser extent by the Shops and Offices Act. If there is going to be any legislation as far as the Chinese are concerned, the same will have to be provided for Europeans. +1, + 12 i T 7 U r tate the - ChiD , ese will treat their employees as partners what difference will that make?—l am only saying what I think I would do myself, and I am perfectly satisfied that if 1 were engaged m the business, if there were two engaged in partnership there would be another room taken for the second. That could be worked quite easily mfl JLTl! ey - Canno * do th at because it will mean more expense?-A little more business will make up the increased expenditure. 14. If they remain as they do at present it does not make a difference, because the law states where there are more than two employed " ?—That is so. 15 If the Chinese hove two or three working together, it is a factory, and they have to observe art JooTthree there" & *"" *'* *" unIeTEE will CMneße W ° rkiDg tO^CT ' that is a fac W, and they fifl.i 7 ! Th 7. Wo V ld l^y} 1 Partnership ?-Mr Lock has stated in his evidence that there are fifteen laundries in which there are two or more engaged, but then there are seventeen outside the Bill. The majority would still be outside it. My point is still strong sevent€en outside • i au M ° L Z en -J D ° 7° U re P resen * all the European laundrymen in the city 2-1 have been appointed by the Employers' Federation to represent the laundry people of the Dominion industry autllorit y have 7°" ?-We represent a large number of those who are engaged in the 20. The people who waited on the Minister?—l have nothing to do with that 99 <™ V V*° U auth , orlt y the employees in European laundries ?-No 22 Ihe Chinese Consul.] In the European factories most of the employees are girls?—lt 23 Ther'eW tIT *T* T*^■ bu * *"" ™ & cO - id «able number of niale employees. 23. Therefore this will put the Chinese on the same footing as the weaker sex?-It is doing the same so far as the European men are concerned; but, although there are forty-eight hours Crr onT witnout %?£? W ° men ' S W ° rking - time *»**• h -' —ot ** S - UPP ° Se if *" *™ Eur °P *a -me £"heEuropeans right *" "* " gl ™ t0 the ° should *» P™ William Pryor further examined. (No. 4.) Witness Taking the Bill generally, and omitting clause 3, in regard to section 2 ~-W tion (c), we ask to insert the word "usually" before the word " errmWHl " W i • j to subsection (3) to have the words « during ordinary 17king-hour P S '"tserteTaSr TheTrd time" in line 21, making it read, "Ihe Inspector may at any time during ordinary workil hours require the occupier to verify the entries in the said book in such manner££l forni^may