THE CHINESE ON THE RAND.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 283, 7 December 1907, Page 3

THE CHINESE ON THE RAND.

BY AN EX-PALMERSTONIaN,

To the Editor Manawatu Daily Ttmes. Sir, —At the present critical stage : of this country's history, it would be uufair to malign a Government, which entered office when everything was suffering as a result of excessive optimism, a sequel to the War, had rushed in only to inflate the value of everything. Still it is palpable that the adoption of several proposed policies will vitally affect this country's progress. Even now, it has already begun to falter under the heavy pressure of an injudicious policy. For years past people have been commenting on the deploriable depression, but little did they anticipate the further decline caused by the uncertainty of the labour supply. The mining houses consider that the success of the industry is threatened in view of the fact of an insufficient supply of native labour to replace repatriated Chinese. In consequence people refrain from further investments, suspend mining operations, and curtail expenses. Retrenchment is rampant in Government and other departments. A material cause has been the deoision of the Government to eliminate the certain labour supply (the Chinese) in face of the timely warning from those who are chiefly responsible lor progress, and who will be prejudicially effected. Depression has existed for years, but we have not previously experienced the present state of chaos, general reduction of wages, and retrenchment of employees. The excuses brought for the repatriation of the Chinese have been many and inconsistent. Provided a regular native labour supply had been available, the retention of the Chinese would not have been desired by the employers because of the extra cost of maintenance comparei with the Kaffir. Take a few of the unfounded statements made to serve the oaprices of our enlightened Imperial advisers. These Chinese are better paid, housed, and fed, and enjoy infinitely more luxury than in their native country. In their own country they would earn little more than sufficient to pay for common necessities, whereas, as indentured labourers they are fed daily by their employers, and the pay of an individual Chinaman averages nearly 60s per month, the greater portion of which is spent it purchasing luxuries, and in consequence the storekeepers benefit materially. The coolie is at liberty to go out on pleasure during his leisure hours in the day time. They are provided with hot and cold water in their bath houses, their food is cooked by Chinese cooks and handed to them before going to work and on the termination of their shift, they are supplied with stoves in their rooms and a regulated airapace of 250 cubic feet is allowed each coolie. Their movements are. not restricted in any way, excepting by the rules pertaining to discipline, which is necessary with any body of men.

Another argument was the possibility of the Chinese supplanting the skilled labourer, but the workmen are guarded against that by the clause in the Ordinance which restricts the employment of coolies to unskilled work, and only in connection with the exploitation of minerals, which is as binding and rigid as the three years' contract. Often the white boss is apt to show carelessness by allowing the coolie to do skilled work while he looks on, thus encouraging the strong instnet of the Celestial to carry out work which is intricate, but the question of replacement of the white man need not be entertained as long as we have laws in the country. The cry about the crimes of the Chinese was not altogether unfounded, but from a humane point of view if such practices were prevalent, or, at present even existed, the retention of the Chinese would never have been countenanced by the controllers of the mining ndustry. These outrages form ancient history, and for months, almost years, they have been unheard of, chiefly owing to the elimination of undesirables, and further through better understanding and control. The mining figures for the last quarter show that for 60 odd mines the aggreagte profit was £2,329,206 from gold won amounting to £6,391,661. Of the former the Chinese were responsible for £842,000 while their share of the output was £2,572,000. Imagine the serious results if the upply of Kaffir labour is not forthcoming. We know from past experience that the latter labour has been insufficient, and it is quite a 'finesse' to repatriate the certain labour which we have. There are many other questions which are very important, but whichever way we turn we are facing the insolvable question of labour, which forms the nucleus of South African resources, that of the mining industry.—l am, tc,

WANDERER Johannesburg, November 4.