CABLE NEWS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 81, 5 April 1906, Page 5

CABLE NEWS.

[BT ELECTIUO TELEGBAPH. — 'COPTKIOHT^ QUEENSLAND SUGAR INBWSTRY. — * OBJECTS OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION. < WHITE LABOUR A QUESTION 03? WAGES. [PEESS ASSOCIATION.] BRISBANE, 4th April. Mr. W. Kidslon, Premier of Queensland, says that the Royal Commission appointed to enquire into black labour in the- State is expected, to furnish the Government with .accurate reliable data concerning the proposed deportation of kanakas, and on, a still more important matter — the scarcity or otherwise of white labour. The subject, was a difficult one, invoking large expense, but as tho Federal Government had passed a Black Labour Bill Queensland would now have to meet the difficulty. The question of white 'labour for the sugar industry was only one of wages. Whites would do tho work if the wages wero^good enough. THE DEPORTATION OF KANAKAS. BUNDABERG, 4th April. Mr. Caiilfield, assistant immigration inspector, giving evidence before the Coloured Labour Commission} said it would be inhuman in some cases to land Eatir.es on their own islands, as they had lost touch with their own people. Some of the islanders were, indifferent regarding deportation ; others were keenly resentful. He had learned authentically that Tanna "boys" had determined if deported to murder every white man on Tanna Island. He was -confident some would have to be forcibly deported. VIEWS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT. DIFFICULTIES IN WORKING THE ACT. In an interview which took place last Wednesday between the Prime Minister of tile Commonwealth (Mr. Deakin) and the Queensland Minister of Agriculture (Mr. D. F. Denham) the views of the Queensland Cabinet with reference to tho deportation of kanakas were set out. Mr. Denham explained that if the provisions of tht> Pacific Island Labourer.-. Act, 1901, were carried out to the letter great difficulties would be experienced. Section 7 of this Acb was specially referred to by the Queensland Minister, and this provides that uo agreement shall be made or remain in force aftei 31st December, 1900. By the next section the Minister for External Affairs may order a Pacific Island labourer found in Australia after the date mentioned) to bo deported^ from Australia. It was explained to the Prime Minister by Mr. Denham that at the end of thfe present year 6000 kanakas would not only be liable to immediate deportation, but also that none of them couUl be legally employed. What, asked the Queensland Minister, was to be done with these men between 31st December, when their contracts expired, and th* <lar* at their deportation? Who was to maintain them in the interval? He intimated that the Queensland Government intended to throw the whole responsibility for then keep and their deportation trpon the Commonwealth Government, and he also showed that it would take a. considerable length of time to complete the. wholesale deportation of the kanakas now engaged in Queensland. In reply to questions by Mr. Deakin, it was further explained by Mr. Denham, that tho Queensland Government had a guarantee of £5 per man to provide for the return of the kanakas to their islands, but, whilst this amount sufficed wher the kanakas were going and coming, the lowest estimate now to deport the kanakas was £8 pea- head. Th& sum of about £18,000 would, therefore, have to be found by the Commonwealth Government, in addition to the guarantees, which ths Queensland Government was prepared to hand over to tha federal authorities. The Prime Minister was not prepared to give Mr. Denham a. specific xeply, but expressed anxiety to learn tho result of ihe investigation now being made by the Royal Commission recently appointed' in Queensland to enquire into the kanaka question. Mr. Denbam explained that the Commission had been instructed to ascertain the number of kanakas who were liable to deportation, the islands to which they wanted 16 be sent back, and also full particulars about those kanakas who by reason of having lived in Queensland for many years deserved special considera* tion. The Commission is also to report upon the altered labour conditions of Northern Queensland.