The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 19, 1903. THE LABOR QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 803, 19 January 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 19, 1903. THE LABOR QUESTION.

Our cablegrams show pretty clearly that the mine-owners on the Rand are determined to import cheap labor, and whether it he coolie, Chinaman or anything else is all the same to them so long as it is cheap and docile. At present the preference seems to he for Chinamen, as the cheapest obtainable. If will he humiliating to the people of New Zealand to think that while they spared not to assist the Mother country lu the war, the immediate result should he the importation of so much colored labor to suit the rapacity of tiie mine-owners, whose main concern is dividends. The Boers are suppressed—to bring in Chinamen ;at least that is the policy outlined for youth Africa by the mine-owners to preserve whose property so much good blood has been shed and so much treasure eaten up. ...We had all hoped that the end would have been to make the territory British, in the development of which the Boers would heartily join. The trend now is to make it a dumping ground for any class of cheap labor—a place where the British worker is to he ousted by the Chinaman. It is stated that even Mr Chamberlain has hesitated to express approval of ihe mine-owners’ policy, but there appears to be such a tacit understanding that no interference is anticipated. In palliation of the proposal it is stated that the laborers are to be brought in under contract ; that simply means slavery in another form. Apparently the time is comiug when Englishmen will have to ponder over the wisdom of shedding blood for a country which is ah once lo be given over to aliens as far as the labor market is concerned, it is one of the darkest blots ou our history that avaricious capitalists should! thus be allowed to take the opportunity to bring in alien labor after the white British have done the fighting. Indian subjects were pot permitted to take part in the war, on account oi their color, but, according to these money-grubbing capitalists Chinamen are good enough to get all the benefit of' the work if they will do it Tor a few shillings cheaper than the British workman—and Mr Chamberlain indirectly, at least, encourages this disgraceful condition of tilings. If lie does not, it is time that lie spoke li'is mind.

The Wftibi had difficulty in getting out of the river at low tide yesterday. To-morrow is the last discount day for Gas Company accounts.

Mr W. L. Rees was a passenger for the South by the steamer last night. Tickets for all parts of the Theatre will be on sale at Miller’s to day.

Nominations close next Saturday for the election of four members of the Harbor Board.

Mr F. Rhodes left for the South last evening, taking the racehorses A.B.N. and Roseplot to compete at the Foxton races.

The schooner Awanui arrived at Whitianga (Mercury Bay) last week, after a rough passage of 19 days.

Mr A. T. Danvers has been appointed handicapper for the Gisborne Racing Chib’s meeting, owing to the illhealth of Mr C. D. Bennett.

“The Wrong Mr Wright,” to bo pro duced at the Theatre Royal to-night,’is preceded by a charming curtain raiser, entitled “ The Grey Parrot.” Tbo deacons of C-balmers Church, Timaru, are now arranging for the erection of a church which, with bell-tower, spire, and pipe organ, is estimated to cosr±'sooo.

The rain which fell at the end of last week has had the effect of refreshing the whole district, and in regard to the land recently cleared by bush fires it will have a splendid effect. The cast-iron work for the band rotunda which is being constructed by Messrs Maekrell and Colley arrived by the W r estralia on Saturday. The work will now be pushed on with all despatch. On Saturday morning, the. Veil. Archdeacon Williams and Mr Thornton, principal of Te Ante College, a rrived in Gisborne on their way | 'to Tuparoa to attend the annual conference qf the Tv Aute Students’ Association, to be held this week at Tamata o Mihi.

Captain East came up by the steaner Maori yesterday.

A number of notices from Messrs ■lamon and Smith appear in our adertising columns.

Tendeis close at noon to-day for the juvtdnise of the stock-in-trade in the lankrupt estate of A. G. Wheeler.

The law relating to Sunday selling is being largely enforced bv the Sydney police.

The Kalgoorlie (West Australia) Hotel and Restaurant Employees’ Union is starting a restaurant of its own.

Some very heavy grain crops in the Monison Bush district, Wairarapa, were cut -n Saturday, and if harvested in fine weather will yield hundsouie returns. Mr John Webster, tue veteran settler of Opononi, Hokiauga, now S 3 years of age, is just recovering irom a severe attach of South African cholera, which has run through the whole of iris household,happily without fatal ejects.

A report from Cooktown, Queensland, states that whilst several blacks were camped on the beach near the Endeavor River un immense alligator suddenly emerged and seized a little piccanniny and swallowed it in tbo presence of its mother.

Provisional specifications have been accepted by the Patent. Office from James Paterson, of Gisborne, carpenter, for a bicycle attachment for the safe carrying of a child or parcel, etc.

One of tbo largest prizetakers at the recent show of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association has donated his prize money, after deducting his expenses, a s a nucleus for a fund for the reduction of the mortgage on the association’s grounds, in the hope that others will follow his example. Shearing in this district (says the North Otago Times) is being greatly hindered by the rain. Stations and farms are still waiting patiently, and have been for the past four or five weeks, for the sunshine that is to dry the wool on the sheep’s backs. The delay is a costly one to sheepowners, who, however, have the consolation of knowing that there is a good prieo ahead,

A shocking mishap is reported from Trafalgar (Victoria). The youngest son of Mr W. H. Waye, of Tarragon, had his right eye pecked out by a tame magpie. The boy was playing in the garden, when the bird, which belonged to a neighbor, approached and instantly liew at his face, and attacked him viciously, with the result stated. The boy will have to undergo an operation, as his sight has been destroyed. We have to acknowledge a copy of the fifth edition of the Now Zoaland Tourists’ Vade Mecum from the U.S.S. Co. The brochure is published for the information of passengers, and is well got up. In reference to Gisborne we regret to see that the population of the borough only has been given, 2737, the suburbs not being included. Mention is made of Nuhaka Hot Springs, but nothing of To Puia. In the list of principal exports no mention is made of butter, which has now become a staple export. At Wesley Church yesterday, Mr W. Frazer conducted the service, and preached an able sermon from tiie texi, “Until the day dawn and the shadows lice away." In the evening the Rev. B. P. Rothwell preached on the subject of the blasting of Hell’s Gate- at the entrance to New York harbor, from which he drew spiritual lessons lo show the ultimate triumph of Hie Gospel. There was a strong choir, the singing being a special feature of the service. The anthem “ l Was Glad was sung. Mr C. J.

East, who was formerly organist, it now both organist and choirmaster. The Rev. B. P. Rothwell had ;l ra-

ther exciting adventure on Saturday evening. lie was tending a young horse in the stable, when the animal suddenly pulled back, and the scantling Lo which it was tied broke, hitting Mr Rothwell on the back of the head. The frightened horse cleared out iuto the open, and then away into the country, Mr Rothwell was tor a few moments dazed by the force of the blow, which was painful, hut did not injure him in any way. The horse, which had a saddle on, has not yet been recovered, and Mr Rothwell

will he thankful for information as to the whereabouts of the animal.

Some good stories are being .told in connection with the break-up • of of the long spell of dry weather. One esteemed settler sallied out in the cool night air, and, thinly-clad, did a gambol on tue meadow while the bounteous rain poured down upon him. An unusual sight was presented at one establishment, where the delighted members of the household got up and had a joyful dance on the verandah. One man in another household clambered out on to the roof lop lo make sure that the water was having a free course to the tanks. Possibly if the rain had continued for a few days everyone would have been grumbling at the shocking weather. While Gisborne lias been rejoicing at the fall

of rain our telegrams show that in some parts of (he South the people are delighted at having at last got a gleam of sunshine. At the meeting of the Farmers’ Union Executive, Mr Redpatli (Motu delegate) said a large number of grazing runs were not paying anything to liie County rates. The Minister of Lands should be written to and requested that these runs should he made to pay the same rates as other lands to the local bodies’ funds. About £3OO a year was being lost to the County funds. The Chairman (Mr Macfarlane) said the loss of rates was even greater than that. Other members considered it was an injustice to ask present leaseholders to pay rates. Mr Redpatli replied that he did not mean his resolution to he retrospective. The following resolplion was adopted “That the Government he written to and requested that no new grazing run leases be granted carrying immunity from local rates, and that tiie Government be requested to come to terms either by extension of lease or otherwise with existing leaseholders.”-

Members of the Kia-Os-a Co-Operative Dairying Company, Limited, are reminded that tho statutory and first general meeting of this company will bo held in the Makauri Sckoolhouse on the evening of Monday’, February 2nd, at 8 o’clock, when the election of the first Board of permanent directors and also of an auditor will take place. Candidates for the office of director must be nominated ten days before the date of election. It is therefore

necessary that all nominations should reach the secretary, Mr Thos. A. Coleman, on or before Thursday next, the 22nd inst. Every director must be the holder of not less than ten shares. Every shareholder has one vote only, no matter how many shares he may hold—one man, one vote. Fresh applications for shares continue to be received. The company is being well supported by 7 its members, and everything in connection with it points to a successful season. A W?llingtou correspondent telegraphs U'iien spoken to on the subject of the drop in the values of frozen mutton and beef on the London market. Wellington firms interested in the frozen meat industry expressed tne opinion that the fall is probably permanent, owing to the loss of the emergency market caused by the South African war, and the inflated value given to dead meat and live stock. When this extra market partially fell away, it was anticipated that prices must inevitably fall. There was a special cause operating at-Home to inflate the values of mutton, there having of late been a depleted market. As new consignments go forward, a further drop in prices may ue expected. The latest fall in values has been delayed somewhat, but there is no surprise manifested. Now that the fall has occurred, the consensus of opinion is that the values of the period just past have permanently gone. The news is received with mixed feelings in this colony. While pastoralists lament their curtailed returns, the city butchers and their customers will joyfully hail the ■ prospect of a of the prices to the normal level.

The tenders which are now being accepted for the mail services in West Australia provide for the establishment of the parcels post system in that State for the first time.

The Melbourne Furniture Trade Society has come into line with the other unions by agreeing to pay sixpence per member per annum for the purpose of electing Labor members to Parliament.

Cheese to the value of considerably ove r £2OOO was scut from Wairavapa recently for Home shipment. Tins is a fortnightly consignment, and gives an idea of the value of the industry to that district.

During last year 2,394,018 sheep and 92.T0il cattle were sold through the Hcmcbusb Yards, Sydnc-y, as compared with 2,2:15,142 sheep and 100,469 cuttle for 1901. Tenders addressed to the Chairman of the Cook Comity Council will lie received until noon on Saturday, 2-lUt in.st.. for contract 51), main road maintenance, from town boundary to Waipaoa bridge. Never in the history of Canterbury farming have the crops appoared so uniformly good as t-hoy do this season (writes the Leeston correspondent of the Press). On heavy, light, and medium quality lauds the crops are heavy on the ground, well headed, and of a good healthy colour. The head is specially noticeable. For years the heads have been short and uneveu, but this year everywhere is to be seen long regular heads of a uniform size. It is difficult to estimate the approximate yield, but unless there is very great damage done by the weather during harvest, wheat should average 50 bushels, barley 60 bushels, and oats 70 bushels per acre. There are many portions of the country where the average may be 10 bushels higher all round. The position and prospects are well summed up by Mr Thomas Stephens, Irwcll, who lias 250 acres of magnificent crop this season. Chatting to him the other day, Mr Stephens stated that after inspecting crops round the district, he had never soon them so uniformly good, and ho was certain that there would bo more grain threshed per acre than had over been harvested in Canterbury. Ho expected his oats and barley to thresh 60 bushels, and his wheat 50 bushels per acre. The Lyttelton Times says The continued wot weather has encouraged a phenomenal growth of vegetation in North Canterbury, and the grain and clover paddocks from Waikari northwards show promise of a record crop. If the grain is reaped under favorable conditions one of the most marvellous returns in the annals of tho province should be shown at harvest time.

In regard to tho hailstorm at Cheviot the Press states that probably nothing like it has been seen in Canterbury. The hailstones wove many of them the size of small hen-eggs, and after tho storm tho hills around tho Mackenzie township had all the appearance of a coat of snow. Several of tho stones easily measure one and three-quarter inches on the rule. In the track of the storm scarcely a window has been left unbroken on tho southwest side of all buildings, and corrugated iron roofing has been dented in all directions, and in many cases perforated. On a cowshed roof twenty holes may be counted in one sheet of iron. Fortunately tho storm did not cover a largo portion of the settlement, but' the area devastated is quite large enough to be a very serious thing to a large number of settlors. The storm passed from south-west to north-east. Tho oat and hay crops have been flattened to tho ground as if a mob of sheep had been driven over them. In many cases the settlers have decidod to cut the crops of both wheat and oats straight away for chaff, as it is impossible to deal with it in any other way. The Domain Board’s plantations present a curious sight, as tho ground has been strewn with small branches and fir tops, and the trees have a dilapidated and wintry look about them. Tho Government woolshed has all its skylights broken, and tho streets of Mackenzie on the south-west side are strewn with glass from tho broken windows. Sacks have been nailed up over windows pending repairs. All tho glaziers in the settlement are working at high pressure, and a temporary glass famine is threatened. Several narrow escapes from accidents occurred in the town. Pedestrians and people driving vehicles were struck down by the hailstones, but managed to find sheltor.