WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9994, 24 March 1893, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES.

“ SX'B. L. BTSVENSON ON THE ISLAND LABOUR TRAFFIC. (Snoub to Paau Association.! SYDNEY, Mibok 88. Tks PrubyUrian pabliahea aa account of am interview wife Mr R. L. Stevenson, the novelist, on the subject of the , labour traffic is’ the South See Islands. Mr Steveasouseys there is the greatest diffieoltj In beiag satisfied with any supereidoß of the traffic by the Queensland Oorernment, owing to the multiplicity or iwpisgee. among the venous islands xen(Uring it impoerible for an agent todiseovee whether uetivM go to Queensland of free irilL As a matter of fact, au&y!' : M' themconsent to go in order to wff tittir Utm from their enemies j and aa to the question of returning, many of them. Hr Stevenson says, ate as often as net seat to the wrong place, which may Biaia death to them. It is a common trick, vhsn an agent wishes the labour,he has OB -board to re-volunteer for work in Queensland, to bring the vessel opposite an enemy's bay, and tell the natives they are "to be landed there. There are, however alleviating circumstances in the SJrthe Gilbert Islands, where the atolls are so desolate that the people are in danger of perishing from famine. Queensland requires temporary labour, and theae islaßda supply its want, and at the time relieve their own distress. Ho bad never seen any where in the world anythiqgqo hideous as this labour traffic. Hebelisvod that to-day undisguised kidnapping vae-. praotised at the-islands. . Ha was jgnennbas to the New Hebrides, but from what he knew ef the other islands be bsNeved fchist any .race was best civilised j i* site. ■ *,Vi A nit* fa "g of tbe unemployed was held roundtbe lamp-post in Cathedral goxieee, yesterday afternoon. Mr Powell « That a subscription - list be bits up, and that the Mayor be asked to hand toe same for the purpose of obtaining aeeeeariee for the wives and children of thdeenbpreeentoutof work, so as to provide leg than nakU the Minister (or Labour is to make arrangements for giving werbto this nhemployad.” This he supnbeted In a lengthy address, urging the keep away from the Charitable ■Mm* Mr Whiting seconded tbe notion. Mr Powell then called on those vreiMit to subsoribe what they were able, and the sum of 8s 9d was subscribed, which Mr Powell said be would at once hand over to . the Mayor. His Worship has for eabsoriptions to be motivedefethe Lytielion Time soffice. He bee headed the list himself with e of £2 2s, and will make tbe first distribution of money to in need on Saturday morning. At 4.20 yesterday the Mayor reorived a telegram from the Minister for Xnbbinr, stating that the Government had nsrSisged for work outs of Christchurch, so Ibatany urgent oesee might be at once xeltoved, and that the Hon B. J. Seddon neuld bs in town on Monday, and would nmoully interview the men. His Worship has summoned a special meeting of the ■ Works Committee of the City Connell for ten o'clock this morning to consider if ui ibps can be taken by the Council the difficulty. The Mayor has ■lte lelegupbcd to the Government asking if aiy irraagement could be ooara to for viving the men work in improving the btiks of the Avon—the Government paying keif the coat and the City Council the smir'helf.