THE P. AND O. COMPANY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2955, 2 November 1910, Page 70

THE P. AND O. COMPANY.

LASCAR CREWS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 28. Following the important statement made in the House yesterday by the Prime Minister regarding coloured crews and the P. and 0. Company, the agents of fchfl latter point out that the native seamen employed are British subjects. The P. and 0. Company has employed them for about 60 years. They are first-class sea men and boatmen, strictly sober, and amenable to discipline. They are of the same class that manned and .fought the East India Company's ships, and materially assisted in upholding the prestige of England in Easteim seas for many years. They are countrymen of the 170,000 native soldiers, the best soldiers in the world, upon whom England in a great measure relies to uphold her supremacy in the East, and who it is conceivable, might be called upon to assistin defending British possessions in Australia in time of need, as they have already been called upon, to do in China, Egypt, and elsewhere. They are paid a higher rate of wages by the P. and 0. Company than the rates ruling at Bombay. They are engaged under the supervision of the Indian Government, and are on full pay from the time they leave India until they return. The icale of provisions is fixed by the Indian Government, and the quantity and variety which has to be provided occupies a large amount of space. The company has to provide warm clothing for the men during cold weather. The space allotted to each man is tho same as that allotted to English seamen. The seamen and firemen have separate quarters. The agents ask these questions: In what manner does the employment of coloured British .subjects on board ?hip compete with Australian or New Zealand seafaring men and waterside workers? If coloured seamen were dispensed with how many Australians or New Zealand-born men would be available to man 10 P. and 0. mail steamers? Serious parliamentarians should ask themselves whether at this juncture or at any time they should lend themselves to fermenting an objection against any section of his Majesty's Indian subjects. It might be' interesting tti ascertain and publish the nationality of the New Zealand and Australian sea men and waterside workers, whose rights are advocated.