HINDOO CONTRACTORS.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 239, 8 October 1920, Page 5

HINDOO CONTRACTORS.

*,' :-■«•►■—•■ ■ . PUBLIC WORKS GANGS

[FROM; OUR CORRESPONDENT.7

. WELLINGTON, Oct. 7. The employment of 38 Hindoos in two. gangs on a co-operative roadinocontract near Masterton was the subject of a question by Mr. A. I>. Mci<edd ' (Wairarapa) to-day, the member wanting to know if the employment of these men was the settled policy of the Department. It was ' admitted that the overseer carried ai; revolver, but this was said to be quite unnecessary. The Hon. J. G. Cbates. (Minister for Public Works) replied that the point, to be remembered is that these men are Britsh subjects. He was responsible for the public works policy, and it was not their policy to employ any so-called foreigner, 'but the position was simply that no tenders could be obtained for the work, and these men offered tt> do it for a reasonable price, and ' were engaged. .Local objection had been raised to having these men in the vicinity, and he was prepared t& consider the question of' removing them altogether. Legislation was in hand, ha members knew, to regulate- the number coming into the country.

Another phase of the Hindoo influx appears in Wellington, where the Corporation Inspector put up to auction sixteen street stands for a three months' tenancy. It was noticeable that the Hindus were moreconcerned in bidding against ono another for the lease of the more attractive locations than in endeavoring to beat the Europeans for a place. The result was that the sum •of £"239 los was realised, and that the highest price paid by a Hindoo for a stand was £30 ss, and by a. European £13. It is interesting to note that before the Council went in for tlio stand system the highest revenue collected for hawkers' licenses was £20. ,