THE COMMONWEALTH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 171, 30 July 1901, Page 2

THE COMMONWEALTH.

COLOURED LABOUR ON MAIL

STEAMEES

MELBOURNE, July 27. Tn the Federal House of Representatives Mr Watson (New South .Vales), leader of the Labour Party, moved tbe adjournment of the debate on the employment of coloured labour on mail steamers. He said the Orient Co. had at laat to succumb to the competition of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, •and was replacing white by Lascar crews. The employment of coloured labour was unfair to Australian coastal steamers. New Zealand and other places had put clauses in their mail conlracts providing for the employment of white seamen only. Tbe Premier (Mr Barton) fully sympathised with this view, but said the subject was difficult lo deal with. Australia was cnlyone party in mail contracts, and there was not the same readiness on the part of the Imperial authorities to exclude coloured labour as there was here. It must be remembered that the views of India, which, equally with Australia participated in the contracts, were entitled to respect. The Government would eudeavour to have terms made that would minimise, if not do away with, the conditions of existing contracts. Mr G, B . Reid, speaking for the whole Opposition, assured Mr Barton that he was heartily with him. Members generally supported the extinction of coloured labour.