LABOUR IMMIGRATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 94, 20 April 1906, Page 2

LABOUR IMMIGRATION.

TRADES COUNCIL PROTEST.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHDECH, Thursday. The Trades and Labour Conference expressed its resentment this afternoon at the proposal of the Government to import 1000 navvies with a

view to their employment on public works. Mr D. H. Hampton (Wellington) moved, "Toat the Government be

urged to introduce legislation to restrict tbe importation of labour under

contract, -whether male or female." Speaking to tbe motion, Mr Hampton said the fact that the Government -was

the greatest sinner in -respect of the importation of lahomr boded ill for the -reception of the resolution -when itwas forwarded, to it. According to the circular published that morning the Government desired 1000 navvies for - employment on the Main Trunk line, but he would guarantee that if ihe Government or any private individual was- desirous of employing 1000 navvies and-was prepared to pay them a, living and decent wage they would receive applications from 2000 or 3000 inside a. week. He hoped the confer--enee would not allow the Government to bring 1000 navvies from England without entering a strong protest against its action. Mr A. Collins (Wellington) said that there had been an instance in Canterbury of the importation of girls for She tailoring trade. That kind of ihing wooM not be allowed on the other side, where they had a Statute dealing with contract labour. Mr D. McLaren (Wellington) said he would like to move as an amendment, "That the following -words be added to the motion: '.And that this conference enters its emphatic .protest against the projected importation by the Government of 1000 naawies and 1000 doaiesiie servants. -~" Mr "Hampton: I am quite willing to "jHEeept it as an addition to the motion. Mr McLaren, continuing, said that the conference" bad. just passed a motion in favour of equal pay for men »nd women, provided that they did «qual iwork, and if the Government was going to bring in an unlimited supply of domestic servants while that class #f labour was still "unorganised, it would mean ihe eni&tg down of the fTristing rates of pay. Those-who required domestic servarts .would have a orach larger supply if the girls were -"better treated. (Hear, hear.) Mr T. Y. Paul (Otago) said that if 4hey allowed tie importation df labour to go on they were not very far off a- severe industrial depression as far as ihe "workers were concerned. Mr G. T. Love (Haavke's Bay) also supported the motion, and the debate S*as then interrupted by, the fea flkSock-adjoßrnmeni.