CHEAP BOY LABOR

Evening Star, Issue 14414, 9 July 1910, Page 11

CHEAP BOY LABOR

QUESTION OF IMMIGRATION. [Fnou Qua Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 9. , On the tabling of an immigration return by the Hon. G. Fowlds, Mr T. E. Taylor incited the House to discuss at eomo length the question of assisted immigrants, especially hoys. ’Mr Taylor said that he was satisfied that, there were many matters connected with employment of boy labor that were really under the care of the State. There were quite a number of boys hired out by the State to fanners, who systematically exploited them as cheap labor. These boys milked the fanners’ cows in the morning, worked in a flax-mill all day, and milked again in the evening. They received 5s a week, and were domiciled in a shantv attached to a fowlhousc. The speaker admitted that this might be an extreme case, but nevertheless i* was an actual one. If boy labor was imported, it would be systematically exploited. The immigrant lx>yg would have no parents to protect their interests, though no doubt the Minister would do his best to act in loco parentis. He did not think the Minister was even equal to the task of seeing that the boys lured out from the Industrial Schools were properly treated. It would bo batter to limit their employment to the Slate experimental farms. The sentiment of the country was entirely opposed to the importation of labor. We had 100,000 children now passing rapidly from the schools into the world of work, and it was 1 ready quite difficult enough to find employment for them, without importing unfortunate children from other lands. FARMERS WANT BOYS.

The Prime Minister replied at some .jnglh to Mr Taylor. Ho claimed that 'hero was a good deal of misapprehension m this subject. “The Government,” ho ixid, “have not committed themselves to .he introduction of any boys into this lountiy- A gentleman was here a little while ago, and he represented to the Government that a number of suitable boys n the Old Country should be sent out to Mew Zealand, among other countries, and .hat the Government might assist by givng them the benefit of reduced passages. JTie Government came to tho conclusion that we should ascertain from the Labor Department what prospects there wore for he employment of fifty boys by farmers.” Sir Joseph Ward hero read a letter dated June 27 from Mr K. Tregear, Secretary of .he Labor Deaprtment, stating that quiries by bis agents throughout New Zealand showed that there would _ be no difficulty in placing fifty such boys in good homes under good conditions, some of the farmers interviewed having offered good

terms, the wages generally offered being 5s a week to start with,’ running up to as much as 30s (with keep) after the second year. In general, farmers stated their willingness to pay the usual wages if the boys wore willing and intelligent workers. Though the time given for inquiry had been very brief, seventy-five applications for the boys bad been received, of which the department recommended sixty-ono as suitable employers, Otago’s quota being fourteen applications and eleven recommended. Mr Tregear added that one weakness of the scheme was that if the boys turned out unsuitable they would be thrown on the hands of tho Labor Department. —Boys ami the Government Service.— . Sir Joseph Ward went on to deal with the difficulty the Railway and Post and

Telegraph Departments experienced in alracting boys. “In the Railway Department,” ho said, “ wo have had to alter tho age limit to allow business to be carried on. Sometimes we would not receive a single application for a position in the Post and Telegraph Department. We had to break tho ago limit- to get messengers, and wo bad to increase the ordinary pay to get boys to join. We had to lower the educational standard required because we could not get obough boys who had passed the higher standards. Tie problem won’t be settled by declaiming as to the desirability of using our own boys. No one in this country wants to do anything that will interfere with the legitimate labor market, or to induce an undesirable class to come here from Britain. No one wants to do anything inimical to the future prospects of our own boys. Our dear duty is to help tbo boys growing up in this country, on whose education parents and the Stale have spent a good deal of money, and whom wo should absorb in our own industries.” Sir Joseph Ward concluded by saying that all tho Government had done was to listen to the representations of the highly accredited medical man who had made these proposals, and ascertain whether these fifty boys could be advantageously’ placed. _ Whatever assistance the Government might give would bo in tha matter of reduced passages hom Home. The Prime Minister also touched on the domestic servant difficulty, especially in the country districts. MR MACKENZIE’S SOUND ADVICE, When the Prime Minister sat down there followed speech after speech. Mr Luke spoke on the question from the employers aspect, and Mr M ‘ Lanai from the aspect of the Labor union representative. The Hen. T. Mackenzie -delivered one of those emphatic utterances which used to distinguish him iu his pre-Ministenal clays, but which have been missed since his elevation to Cabinet rank. He first pointed out the work being done in tho producing industries of New Zealand, as was evidenced by our export of dairy produce for one thing. Then he pointed to our decreasing birth rate and declared that, in a manner of speaking, we were living on our capital. As regarded workers, “ when our efficient working people pass out there will not be enough population coming on to carry on the necessary works of the Dominion,” he declared. * He also warned people of tho danger to the Dominion in the drift of people to city and town life. The increase of population in “the towns,” he said, is 25 per cent, as against a 10 per cent, increase in the country districts ; therefore, although the country districts are enormously increasing their output they are 15 per cent, behind thecitics. “ In regard to increase of population, you must have population to develop the lands being

thrown open. It has been said that few men who have, been agricultural laborers become farmers. Take tho Hon. 1. 5Duncan. Take the most of tho people of Otago, and you find that, most of the people who went, on the land when it was subdivided are men who been efficient workmen. Take Cheviot. Several men whom I met there had been ploughmen on Glydevalo Estate, and they are doing remarkably well.”—(Hear, hear.) Mr Mackenzie went on to defend immigration from Britain on Imperial grounds. He pointed out that it was to Great Britain's interest to distribute her sons among her dependencies. “Every man,” ho said, “who comes to New Zealand from Great Britain means £7 10s po rannnm in trade to Great Britain, but if ho goes to the United Stales 10s per annum in trade to Great Bri-

tain.” This system of erecting a wall round New Zealand, and saying wo must keep it absolutely to the few now here, is wrong. We have to fill up the spare places of Australia and New Zealand with people of, our own kith and kin in order that we may ba strong enough to hold these countries for people of our own race. MR ARNOLD AND MB MACKENZIE. Mr Arnold spoke with unwonted emphasis,’not to say warmth. He began with a reference to the firm'of E. A. Smith,’ who had, he said, received 20s per head for every immigrant they sent, to New Zealand, arid whoso commission ia this way reached £5,000 per annum to his knowledge. While thousandsof people hail thus been brought hero at no little cost to tiro'.Dominion, a large number had left our shores because of tile state of the labor market. Fo that, with all our immigration Tom* population showed very little increase in, (he last few years beyond the excess of births over deaths. _ “Our people,” ho continued, “ are growing up here] and are learning their trades, and learning them well, but when they reach maturity they go to other places.” He said that if Mr Mackenzie's influence with the Government was strong enough to induce them to accept the proposal to bring those boys, which he doubted, he would require a guarantee that the boys would be properly provided Lor before he voted for such Immigration. He also wanted to know how tho Govenunent would ensure that the lioys would stop with the fanners and would not drift to the towns after a while. In the course of his speech Mr Arnold referred to a difference he had had with Mr Mackenzie on the matter of unemployment, the Minister having asserted that work was plentiful, whereas he (Mr Arnold) had been able soon afterwards to point to grave distress arising from unemployment. ‘ THE GENERAL DISCUSSION. After this member after member spoke, and with i-ach successive speaker the scope of the subject widened out until it embraced tho opportunities afforded our boys in both town and country pursuits, the capacity of our boys to make tho most of theic opportunities, the bad effect of the love of amusement, and its effect in drawing the country population to town. Some urged better parental control; others more agricultural colleges ; and others, again, declared that our educational system was to blame, and would have to be revolutionised. A most interesting debate lasted up to tho 5.50 p.m. adjournment, when it terminated for the time being, and as the report on which it sprang was not tabled it may come on again next week on the report again coming up for presentation. <■ A SHORT INTERLUDE. During the debate just alluded to Mr M'Laren was leaving the Chamber

as tho Hon. T. Mackenzie was referring to him in terms of somewhat severe criticism. Mr Mackenzie was saying that there was a coterie headed by Mr M'Laren and others of his type wlio always took up a certain attitude on immigration and its relation to Labor. Mr M'Laren still made for tho door. Mr Mackenzie remarked: I am sorry the hon. member is going out, became I am going to deal with him.” Air M'Laren halted in the passage behind the back row of benches, and said he had an engagement. “ I am sorry,” said Mr Mackenzie, “that he has not tho courage to listen to iight being thrown on his fallacies-;.” There were cries of “ Order ” from one or two members, and M r M'Laren explained that a special meeting of the Wellington City Council, convened on his own motion, would begin iu ten minutes, and ho had no option but to leave the

Chamber. Mr Mackenzie at one* accepted this explanation. “ You ought _to go a great deal further, and apologise,’ said Mr. Taylor. “You otter go a great deal further,” replied the Minister, and Mr M'Laren at length was allowed to reach the door.