ALIEN WORKERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4182, 7 March 1916, Page 5

ALIEN WORKERS.

EMPLOYMENT OX PUBLIC

WORKS

COMPLAINTS TO MI NT STEP.

A deputation of workers from, the Otira tunnel waited on the Mmistei for Public AYorks (the Hon. W. Eraser). The men's grievance was the suspension of certain men ironi the works. One of the dopntationists (Nicholas complained that- a worker was being discharged who had put ad his savings, amounting to about- £“>GO. into the Public Yorks loan. kiv-.s man was to bo discharged while a- ■ - other worker, a pro-German, remained in employment. In reply -o a question or Fraser as rn his definition a pro- ■ German, Air Nicholas replied : ./.‘A man who says lie hopes the Bruts.', race will he beaten. Air V laser replied that a- man wo© made such a statement- was certainly a pro-Gorman. There were, 'however, two sides of the question, and probably some little thing had been oinutod which made all the difference. Later Air Fraser defined his general policy. Ho stated tuat- <iooice-.i policy had yet been adopted to prewin- any man who is not- a Britishsubject or one of her allies from obtaining work. Up to the present no alien sub jects had been placed in any position in the Public A) orks oceans© it wa> not considered rigut than they should hold responsible positions over our own people. Air. Fraser, however, did not consider that aliens could no stopped from working. One man who had occupied a position as overseer for *2O vears had been removed, and the workers had protested. Dun showed hew unreasonable people were, and also demonstrated that New Zealanders have not yet made up their minds how these men should be dealwith.