PROTECTION SOUGHT

MARKET GARDENERS

AUCKLAND PROBLEM

ASIATICS' COMPETITION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, March 10.

A strong plea for protection from increasing competition by Hindus and Chinese was made to the Minister of Labour (the.Hon. H. T. Armstrong) as deputy for the Prime Minister, by a deputation representing the market gardeners at Pukekohe and in the suburbs of Auckland, and European \ retaii fruiterers in the metropolitan area.'The deputation urgently asked lor aid on the ground that Hindus threatened to capture the whole of the market garden industry in the Franklin district, and in the second place, thatthe higher wage rates now being enforced made it increasingly difficult to meet .the competition, of Asiatics, who, it was; alleged, were not affected by much: of the present labour legislation, and were evading the remainder.

Mr. R.W. Bilkey, president of Franklin Produce Growers' Association, said Hindus now occupied 500 acres of land at-Pukekohe and a further 1100 acres at Ohakune, which was a neighbourhood excellently, suited to vegetable growing. His association favoured the repatriation of all Chinese. It realised that the Hindus, being British subjects, could not be dealt with so simply, but it believed that something could be done by the Government to curtail their operations.

- ALLEGED EVASION OF LAWS. .On behalf of the New Zealand European Fruit and Vegetable Retail Trade Association, Mr. K. A. Kcaley asked that something be, done to control Asiatic retailers, who, he said, persistently evaded all labour laws. He 'could bring positive evidence that one Hindu youth had been observed working 80 to 90 hours a week. It was impossible to regulate the wages,paid. "This is a very difficult and import-ant"-matter that should be grappled witfi in the interests of the white population of New Zealand," said the Minister. "One problem is in restricting the' entry of Asiatics who are British subjects and have equal-rights, i do not' know whether our allows restrictions on particular classes of British subjects, but if they come here we can make them observe our laws." ■ • Mr. A. C. A. Sexton, M.P. for Franklin, remarked that according to what he had heard the Indian Government objected to ' restrictions on Indians merely as such, but it did not mind if measures were taken to prevent unfair economic competition. Mr. Armstrong said that - further amendments to the Shops and Offices Act were being prepared, and he thought of fixing the statutory closing hours for each class of. shop whether labour was employed or not. The Government was anxious to prevent evasions of the industrial laws in cases where the relationship of master and servant did not exist He believed that with the help of the growers this could be done in the market gardening industry. • Mr. Sexton: I suggest the question of the Indian' Government's attitude should be-looked into so that the Prime Minister tnay. discuss.it if necessary at the' Imperial' Conference.

Mr. • Armstrong: ~I will give Mr, Savage''l all hihe information" .that is available fronvHhe Labour Department. Provision is to be made in the Agricultural Workers Act lor covering all classes of farm-labour. Market gardening can be included if both sides consent. I cannot deal with all the points that have been raised, but legislation that is under way provides much, and we will see how much further we can go.