MARKET GARDENING BY PRISON LABOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 80, 2 April 1908, Page 3

MARKET GARDENING BY PRISON LABOUR.

A well-attended meeting of marketgardeners and producers was held oa Wednesday evening in the Victoria Hall, Avondale, to protest against the proposal of the Government entering into competition with producers, as outlined by Sir Joseph Ward in his recent speech ia Uw Federal Hall. Mr. B. Johnson (chairman), in explaining the object of the meeting, said that the competition of the Chinese was quite enough to contend with without having, the additional opposition of the Government. He did not. see why they should enter into the trade at all" as he maintained that market-gardeners were the right class of settler, mostly owning the ' land they tilled, and helping to support, the Government, whereas the Chinese took all the wealth they produced out of the country. Mr. E. C'opsey also spoke of the com- • petition of the Chinese, who, he said, were allowed to work on Sundays by the Government, whereas anj' European working at his trade would be prosecuted. What severer competition could they have than that? Mr. F. Walker suggested that as a means of watching their interests they should combine and form themselves into a union, and so be placed in a better position to defend themselves, as all other trades had done. After further discussion on the subject,' Mr. D. Connell moved the following resolution, which was carried unanimously:; —"That this meeting of market-gardenere strongly protests against the Government's proposition to utilise prison labour in the production of vegetables, and is convinced that such a policy would be detrimental to the interests of the large number of Europeans engaged therein. ,. It was decided to forward a copy of the resolution to Sir Joseph, Ward, and that a deputation wait upon hhn on his return to Auckland. The meeting then formed itself into an association, and the following officers were appointed:—President, Mr. B. Johnson; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. Walker and. E. Copsey: secretary and treasurer. Mr. D. Connell: committee, Messrs, D. Oryan, A. Knight, E. Coutanche, B. Feausham, J. Watson, and Fremley. . _ j