NO ROOM HERE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144051, 22 March 1913, Page 4

NO ROOM HERE.

A LABOURITE MANIFESTO. Per Press Association. , DUNEDIN, March 21. The Otago Trades and Labour Council has issued a manifesto in regard to the immigration question from the workers’ point of view. The. council contends tnut while population has been attracted to New Zealand for years, a very largo proportion of immigrants have been compelled to go to Australia, and that, therefore, it is a flagrant and unwarrantable waste of public money to assist immigrants. It states that many hundreds of immigrants to Australia have been disappointed by finding the conditions and opportunities of employment so different from the glowing pictures of immigration agents and shipping companies, and that there are hundreds of unemployed in each of tho Australian States, some of whom must come back to these shores. The council denies the accuracy of the statements as to the shortage of labour, and says that, in any case, to meet tlie demands, women and children arc required. Tills, it says, means that cheaper workers, not more, workers, are required. This means the undermining of the workers’ conditions. After referring to unemployment in the hoot trade, the council says deliberately Hint an organised attempt is being made to undermine industrial conditions by flooding the labour' market, with the object of reducing wages. Tlie manifesto concludes by urging the Government not to continue a policy which most bring about a dislocation of industrial conditions, as well as throw many workers out of employment.