THE FURNITURE TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 81

THE FURNITURE TRADE.

OPPOSITION TO ASIATIC LABOUR

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTERS. WELLINGTON, August 4.

A deputation from the New Zealand Federated Furniture Workers waited on the Prime Minister, the Minister ot Labour, and the Minister of Customs today regarding the manufacture of furniture by Chinese and the importation of wickerwork articles made by Asiatics. Mr Laurenson, who introduced the deputation, said that the members wanted to put before the Ministers the menace that the Chinese were becoming to the furniture trade in New Zealand. The Hon. J. T. Paul said that if the Chinese "ere allowed to enter the trade in New Zealand the result would be the same as in Victoria. Ihe unions wanted to keep the trade on the same high level as it had been in the past. Mr Moriarty said that the Prime Minister, in reply to a circular in re Chinese competition, had promised that when -“the matter came before Parliament they could depend on his support. Jhe furniture workers had agreed to legislation being asked for on the lines of_ that novy in force in Western Australia. Ihe clauses they wanted inserted in the Act were:

(1) No person of Chinese or other Asiatic race shall be employed in a factory for longer hours than women may be employed therein under the Act, nor shall he be employed before 8 o clock in the morning nor after 5 o clock in the evening. (2) No person of Chinese or other Asiatic race shall be—(a) registered as an owner or occupier of a factory unless he satisfies the Minister that lie carried on the business which he proposes to carry on in such factory before the passing of the Bill : or (bj employed or engaged by an occupier of the factory in or about the factory unless the occupier satisfies the inspector that such person was so employed or engaged in such factory on or immediately before the passing of the Bill aforesaid'. (3) Every cabinetmaker and dealer in furniture who sells or offers for sale goods manufactured wholly or partly by Asiatic labour, and whether imported or manufactured in New Zealand, shall stamp such goods in the prescribed manner with the words ‘Chinese labour ” or "Asiatic labour” a-s the case may be. Mr Moriarty read a circular issued by the National* Anti-sweating League in Victoria showing the serious position the furniture trade was in there owing to the Chinese entering into competition with the white man. In Victoria and in NewSouth Wales no overtime was allowed to be worked in the trade, and this did a great deal to stop the Chinese turning out cheap furniture. Mr Moriarty drew attention to the position of the wicker workers, whose trade was being killed by the importation of wickerwork from China. The Government should increase the dutyon this class of goods and so prevent the trade from disappearing through Chinese competition. Mr E. Arnold said that he did not think any trade had suffered so much through the Chinese as that of the wickerworkers. He instanced how factories had reduced their staffs, and in one instance a. man had closed down altogether and commenced importing Chinese chairs, etc. He hoped the Ministers would seriously consider the matter and give them some protection. The Prime Minister said he did not think that Asiatic labour should lie allowed to establish itself in competition with the workers in this dominion. He knew the effect it would have, for it would demoralise and lower the people and the trade. Where Asiatic labour interfered with a local trade they would do their best to remove it. They could rely on his doing his utmost to prevent Asiatic labour interfering with trade in New Zealand.

The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher agreed with the Prime Minister. He felt strongly on this, matter, and the Government should not only- do everything to discourage Asiatics from coming here, but should also encourage the manufacture of British goods for British people. The only way to do that was to put a very substantial duty on the goods, the same'as was done in the Commonwealth. Until something in this direction was adopted the question of Asiatic labour and matters appertaining to it would have a very* keen interest for him.

Mr Williams said that if the duty on oak was removed New Zealand would hold its own in the manufacture of furniture. The Prime Minister; 1 will look into the matter.

A "hole family, comprising a widow and children, have lie on. admitted to the ■I as tenon Hospital suffering from soarlet