AGAINST CHINESE LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 138, 11 June 1912, Page 3

AGAINST CHINESE LABOUR

PUBLIC MEETING AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, 10th.June. United action is being taken in Auckland by employers and their workmen to prevent the introduction of Chinese labour into the furniture trade. This evening the alarm which has been created in the industry was expressed at a public meeting held in the Trades Hall. There was a very large attendance. The princi. pal speaker was Professor W. T. Mills. Mr. F. Andrews moved: — "That this meeting of citizens of Auckland views with apprehension the proposal to introduce Chinese labour into the furniture itrades in New iZealand, and earnestly petitions Parliament to pass legislation that will effectively prevent injury to any industry by the introduction of Asiatic labour." The motion was carried unanimously*. The members of the Rattan and Wick-er-workers' Union attended the meeting in a body. The injurious effect of Asiatic competition is their industry fras explained by Mr. A.-Eosser, who moved : "That this meeting of Auckland employers and workers views with alarm the large importation into the Dominion of wicker and rattan furniture, produced by Asiatic labour. It further brings under notice of the Government the fact that this furniture is of inferior make, produced under sweated conditions, winch gives it criminal advantage over the locally produced article. Keeping these facts in view, we call on the Government to place a prohibitive duty on all such imported .furniture." The motion was earned unanimously.