THE COLOURED INFLUX.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 239, 6 October 1916, Page 2

THE COLOURED INFLUX.

LABOUR IN A QUANDARY. BROTHERS OR UNDERCTTTTERS? SUGGESTIONS TO GOVERNMENT. MINIMUM WAGE WANTED. j The question of the influx of Hindu 1 and other coloured -labour into the Dominion has recently been exercising the minds of the Auckland Labour Representation Committee, and some time ago a special committee was set up to inquire into the matter and present a report to the general committee.

After giving consideration to the mattor, the sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. T. Jones (president), M. J. Savage, W. E. Parry, R. Heffron, and B. Martin decided to recommend a definition of the policy of the committee in the shape of a manifesto for the guidance of members and trade unionists generally, and for the consideration of the Labour party at its next conference. The report was considered and adopted at a special meeting of the Labour Representation- Committee held in the Trades Hall last evening, over which Mr. T. Jones presided. The Press were excluded from the gathering, but subsequently the decision of the meeting to adopt the appended manifesto was announced:—

INTERNATIONALIST ATTITUDE. "We do not approach the question in the attitude of. solving a racial problem charged with bias, - but as internationalists, with the intention of securing a social and civic stability for the peoples of this Dominion and the peoples of every other country. Our industrial organisations do not close their doors to the entrance of such coloured labourers as will stand to the policy of the respective bodies with whom they seek membership. The industrial organisations, occupying an insular and class position within the community, are compelled to take one of two positions, namely, the closing of their doors to the membership of coloured workers, thereby creating an element of blackleg labour, or the keeping open of the doors to an unquestioned increase in membership. Neither of these courses is desirable or fully meets the situation. Within the community the political party of Labour, fulfilling a social role, and realising its share of responsibility in administration, must express itself upon the question of coloured labour in its relation to the domestic policy of this Dominion.

AN ALARMING INVASION. "The Labour Representation Committee, therefore, views with alarm the increasing influx to. New Zealand of cheap coloured labotul also the increasing importation of industrial commodities produced by cheap labour. We direct the attention of the Minister of Labour to the depressing effect this twofold problem must have upon the standard of living and the domestic policy of this country. "With a view to minimising immediately the evils occurring therefrom, the Government is requested to institute a minimum wage; -involving the principle 'of 'equal' piy for "equal worit,- anaVapplicable to all workers irrespective of sex or colour. We also Tequest that' the immigration restriction laws, in regard to the educational test and in other respects be so ammended as to prevent the indiscriminate introduction of Asiatic labour."

CHEAP PRODUCTS. "Further," continued the manifesto, "with a view to the industrial development of the Dominion, we request that the importation of Far Eastern or other products of cheap labour be regulated, so that provision shall be made for an exchange of stum commodities as shall be mutually agreed upon by the countries involved. This committee urges the full consideration of this question upon the next Conference of the New Zealand Labour party."