THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

North Otago Times, Volume CIII, Issue 13654, 23 August 1916, Page 1

THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

, SHORTAGE IN AUCKLAND DISTRICTS, , "KEEPING OUT! COUNTRY WHITE." ■ , (Per Press AußiKiidtinD.) ■ AUCKLAND, August ,21. Farmers throi.ighout.lho Auckland district •. ni'(\ finding -it difficult, to secure.' labour. . So .many of '(heir sons :and farm hands; have gone to the war that, maiiy have, given.--up the attempt>t"6 repiaee- the 'ones,' and are.,, making the-best-oil'short-stalled conditions,; ■' • Rojue. relief' haj-'been,provided:' iii'tiie: \S r ailiato-and ilie 'King Country; bv. tho■emplpynienf 'of Hinilu lal)o.Ur;'- The majority'of Hindus-have, come .10-tho nonihtiqnVwithin" Huv last 1 fow 'yours from*' Fiji' plantations. These men'are' imported to. lhe,.' Fiji Group from ■ India by the coolie ships and are usually under a five years' contract for work iu conueefion with-the production of sugar, bananas or, copra. On the expiry of their - terms, of engagement the coolies pftoir.makc for-Australia and New Zealand. The' Hindu, with fruit cart, is well known-about And/land city, but. the greater,number of those who arrive go to such ceii'tres as-Te Awnimitu, To. Kniti and Taiiiintriimii, Occasionally they, go into.business'in lliesc country towns, but, as a'rule, .they seek''employment as agricultural-and pastoral labourers. They 'do not accomplish',as much in thej. eight or ten hours worked as a white .man,-and their pay has been in accordance w,i llt results, ..the farmer has found that' the work of. three' Hindu's is-just about equal to that 'of,two' while men.- ' Six'.shillings a ; day -was reckoned quite good pay, but recently the Hiiidn- has -shown an'.appreciation of. the law s ul' siipplv and demand and has required higher'wages. As a rule' lie gets Ihenv ,• >