NEW ZEALAND IS "BLACK"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 62, 6 December 1917, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND IS "BLACK"

AN A.W.U. DECISION

WORKERS NOT ALLOWED TO

COME HERE

It is notorious that there have been strong influences at work in Australia to prevent the usual migration of slaughtermen and shearers to this country for tho present season, and corroboration of this is alforded by some correspondence in the possession of the Minister of Internal Aftairs. Mr. Russell made a statement on the subject yosterday. "I have just received a telegram from tho Canterbury Frozen Meat Company," said Mr. Russell, "in which thoy state that they have applications by cablegram from slaughtermen from Molbourne for work in this country, but that these slaughtermen are under the impression that they will not bo allowed to land in. this country. To this I have sent the following reply: 'Government will welcome bona-fide shearers and slaughtermen arriving here, and will issue permits for thorn to return to their own country at the end of the season. Only residents of Now Zealand are liable under the Military Service Act.' _ . "In consequence of information that reached me a week or two ago," Mr. Russell continued, "I cabled to the Now 'Zealand Government agent in Melbourne and Sydney instructing them to advertise in tho leading papers of the Commonwealth that the Military Service Act did not in any way affect shearers or slaughtermen coming to New Zealand to work the season here. A meeting of the Australian Workers' Union was held in ,due course to consider tho communications which had passed between that body and myself, and as the outcome of that meeting 1 received a reoly that while New Zealand wa6 tinder conscription they would not allow members of their union to come to New Zealand for employment. This in my oninion shows a most regrettable state of things, and I am proud to say that as far as I know no •union in this country has ever taken a similar stand."