CHINESE IN FRANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16483, 8 March 1917, Page 8

CHINESE IN FRANCE.

THOUSANDS OF WORKERS. FIVE iYEAES' . CONTRACT. WAGES AND ALLOWANCES. J [MOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON.. Jan. 10. The French are making a comprehensive experiment in the use of Chinese labour for munition work. ■ Last year tho British Government had elaborated a scheme for omploying on munition work in England negroes brought from Uie African colonies, but at tho last moment it was found that the Trades Unions were irreconcilably opposed to tho employment of this class of labour In England, and the scheme had to bo abandoned. France at that time was already employing a considerable number of artisans from her Asiatic colonies—Cambodia, Annam, and j Indo-China—but the -Republic seems to I havo found that it can do better with the more intelligent and skilful Chinese, and it proceeded to enter into an agrecmont with tho Chinese Government with that object. At the first experiment about 6000 skilled and unskilled labourers were engaged in China, all on a five years' contract, terminable at the end of the third year on j tho option of tho French Commission for Recruiting Manual Labour. Tho Chinese Government, being neutral, could not: exactly undertake to supply tho labour, j but for the protection of the labourers it insisted on an undertaking from the French | Government that the Chinese would be employed only in public or private industrial, or agricultural work in France, Algeria, i or Morocco. If, however, the labourer | desired to remain in France or the French j colonies after his contract had expired, then tho stay does not deprive him of the j right to free shipment at a later date. There are two classes of labourers— skilled and unskilled. The former receive li francs and the latter 1| francs per day, while the hours in each case number I ten per day. On top of this the un- 1 skilled labourer is given 35 francs per month for his familv, and the skilled man 40 francs. The allowances are paid in Pekin to tho families concerned, but the daily wages go direct to tho men themselves. Food, lodging, and clothing are provided free, and the French Government finds all cooking and eating utensils, and fuel. It is stated that the ration supplied is more than sufficient; meat, rice, and bread are the staple foods on five days j a week, with fish on the other two. The French bread is much appreciated, and knives and forks have taken Alio place of chopsticks. All the Chineso were given a holidayon the national fete day of China, and they spent tho occasion on a trip to Paris. Tho better educated Chineso in France aro asking the French Government to give the labourers technical education. The men aro learning the French language. Apart from those already in France, it is probable that 20,000 more are coming. ============