THE PREMIER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 138, 10 June 1905, Page 7

THE PREMIER.

jjHRKTCHURCH DEPUTATIONS. |By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The Premier spent a very busy day u re starting with a visit to Walthani Lool at ten a.m., after which he received deputations, which occupied all the afternoon, with the exception of jhout two hours, till live o'clock. TECHNICAL EDUCATION. A deputation saw Mr. Seddon rcgartljjjff a site and buildings for technical The Premier stated that a Government grant of £3000 was still available, and y a site was provided by the lOdueation Board the grunt would be paid. The Government was prepared to speud more than £3000, if necessary, as they desired to cope reasonably with future requirements. The question of controlling authority might cause some difficulty. The Act might be extended so a.s to vest the authority in the council, which would bring tf"> l aw ' n *'° '* JIC Wlth t '^ °* Municipalities had moneys which they could raise and devote to the purp° Hes required, whilst education boards were tied down by being dependent on the grant from Parliament. EXTRAVAGANCE OF EDUCATION BOARDS. Mr. Seddon criticised what be called the extravagance of some education boards, instancing Wellington and Auckland, as spending money carelessly. He denied that he had ever hinted at central control. He believed local control was better, but when he found boards were not doing what was right, °nd W ere throwing away their money, he was going to tell them so. and take steps to prevent a recurrence. He knew of instances where money granted for the Specific purpose of erecting schools in different districts had been spent for other purposes, and the schools left unprovided, and the children thereby neglected. In the present, case, the Education Board was quito within its rights in declining to sell the South Bolt s-itc, but technical education had suffered thereby. Excellent work had been done in Christchurch. and there was scope for much more. The Government hoped for assistance to end the present unsatisfactory state of affairs, and to get the technical school in full working order. The Mayoral said the first step he Bbould take would be to call a conference, to see if some scheme could be. defined to take advantage of Mr. Seddon's •tier. IMPORTATION OF CONTRACT LABOUR. A deputation from the Tailoress.es' Union was introduced by Mr Ell, and .brought under the Premier's notice the question of the importation of contract girl labour from Australia, which, it was alleged, had been done by the lvaiapoi Woollen Company. Mr Seddon stated that he had casually met Mr Blackwell, chairman of the company, to-day, and he had informed him that, the girls were brought over to do Epeeial work, and because they could Hot get girls in New Zealand. One of the deputation stated that it Was well known that the Australians Mere doing precisely the same work as the local girls. In reply, Mr Seddon said the Govern,ment -would have .to be careful not to draw the line too tight. If they comtnenoeiT with ariti-contract labour laws. is against colony and colony, lie was Bot sure where they would stop, or bow they would do it. In these days of keen competition they could not blame a company for introducing something which reduced the cost of goods, and by that means gave more work and business to the colony. He thought he •ught to hear the company's side of the fuestion before coming to a. decision. DUTY ON SHODDY GOODS. Regarding the importation of shoddy. Mr Seddon remarked that be did not tbink Parliament, would be inclined to increase the present vpry substantial import duty on that class of goods. LIBERAL AND LABOUR FEDERATION. The Premier presented the charter to tiie local branch of the Liberal and labour Federation to-nighi. The meeting was. held in a small hall, which was only fairly filled. Mr Seddon, takWg the platform of the Federation as ms text, elaborated on each individual Plank. He quoted a number of tables, showing the increase in land value from £883 to 190.'t. the area of lands he.1,1 on lease in perpetuity, the value and extent « education endowments, and the num*er of factories and employees. He did Hot deal with any policy "questions.