“ BLACK SLAVERY OF OLD.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3294, 12 August 1911, Page 7

“ BLACK SLAVERY OF OLD.”

IMPORTING ISLAND BOYS AUCKLAND DOMESTICS INDIGNANT. [PEE FEESS ASSOCIATION.J AUCKLAND, August 11. An important matter in the interests of the newly-formed Domestic Servants Union has been investigated bv the Union, and Parliament will be asked if it is aware of the matter —namely, the encroachment of black labor into the domestic service field in Auckland. The subject was freely discussed at a meeting of the Domestic Servants Union last evening, and it was claimed that some mistresses were importing boys from the Islands on a three years’ agreement to act as domestic servants. SJevdr,a'l instances; were given where this has been done, and it was stated that the wages paid were only about a quarter of what mistresses were compelled to give white girls. The salary was not paid to the boy, but. to the parents in the Islands, and this was considered to be resorting to the black slavery of olid. During the discussion it was mentioned that Queensland had stopped the Kanaka traffic simply because it was slavery, and it was l'elt that if this kind of work Avas introduced, into NeAv Zealand a protest should be raised from every labor union.

Mr T. Long, secretary of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union, avas approached by the executive of the Domestic Servants Union this morning and stated that had; the Union Conference been sitting they would have been very willing to take the matter up. The of the Domestic Servants Union have decided to meet, and will approve of a (letter being sent to Mr D. McLaren, M.P. for Wellington East, asking him to raise the question im the House as to whether the Government is cognisant of this importation of black labor.