AUSTRALIANSHEARERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2929, 15 November 1916, Page 8

AUSTRALIANSHEARERS

EFFORTS TO KEEP THEM FROM THE DOMINION ■MISSTATEMENTS IN COMMONWEALTH LABOUR PRESS •'■ The attention of the Minister of Internal Affairs (tho Hon. G. W. Russell) has been drawn to certain statements published in the "Australian Worker," with the apparent object of deterring shearers and slaughtermen from comJing over to New Zealand from Australia this season. The faots aro that some few months ago, at the request of tho secretary of the Shearers' Onion, Wellington, Mr. 'Russell advised hiui officially that bonaflde Australian shearers and slaughtermen coming over to New Zealand for the season would be granted permits to return to the Commonwealth at tho end of the season. And this information was published in the Labour papers throughout Australia. In view of more recent statements Sn'the Australian Labour papers to tho contrary effect, however, tho secretary of the Shearers' Union, Wellington, was again interviewed on tho matter, and subsequently . the following letter was forwarded to him by the UnderSecretary of Internal Affairs:— "The attention of tho Government has been drawn to tho following notico appearing in the columns of tho 'Ins-. \r.fflian Worker,' Sydnoy:— "'Australian workers intending to visit New Zealand aro warned that conscription hasbeen passed into law by the Tory Government of that country,; and that e'very man of military age (except 7tourists) arriving in New Zealand has' . to enrol within fourteen days of his arrival. Employers must not employ a reservist who is not enrolled, and the onus of proof in every case is on tho defendant.'

"In connection therewith, I am directed by the Minister of Internal Affairs to point out that as already ad- , vised you bona-fide shearers and ! slaughtermen coming here for tho season's work wifch: the intention of returning to Australia at the conclusion jof their engagements are granted por.mits to leave New Zealand as a matter 'of course. "Further reference to the statement in the • above notice that all persons coming to New Zealand must register under the Military Service Act, 1916, within fourteen days of their arrival, I am to point out that as provided by Section 33 of the Act this is required of those persons only who come hero to reside. A temporary visit, such as is paid by shearers and slaughtermen in the ordinary courso of their business for a special purpose does not constitute residence, ' and consequently does not bring the person concerned ■under the operation of the Act, and the permission to return to Australia is issued on production of tho permit to leave the Commonwealth. "I am therefore to request that as

a matter of common fairness you will endeavour to havo the notice corrected to mako it clear that the necessity to register within fourteen days after arrival applies only to those men of military ago who conio to New Zealand with the intention of becoming permanently resident here."

Mr. Russell states that tlio secretary of tho Shearers' Union lias promised tliat this letter will he immediately sent on to the Labour papers throughout tho Commonwealth.