GOODS MANUFACTURED IN PRISONS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXVI, Issue 7879, 28 July 1894, Page 2

GOODS MANUFACTURED IN PRISONS.

Hγ Earnshaw. asked the Premier, ifhis attention has been drawn to the manner and conditions under which certain goods, as brooms, brushware, clothing, shoes, &c,,. are bsing manufactured in prisons and penitentiaries by convict labour, and the unfair competition that our several local manufacturers are being subjected to, as against the importation of goods produced under these conditions ; and if he will, when dealing with, the tariff question, mako such conditions iind regulations as .will shut out these prison-made articles from our markets ? He had received the following letter from a manufacturer, which, he thought, 3poke for itself, and wae of such a character as to warrant him in putting this < question to the Minister :■— ■" Danodin, 25th June, 1894. " Re Convict Labour. ' "Dear Sir,—l take the liberty of sending you a copy of an extract from an American trade jonrnal, containing the follow ing:— . . \^_ " Laramie-Lyo Prison Plant, Enlarging: Work has begun on an addition to the broom-factory at the State penitenti* • ary, which, trhen completed, will make Che building twice its present size. The structure will be two stories high, the second story to be used' for tailors and shoe-shops, while the first utory will be an extension of the broom-factory proper, the work to be done by convicts, and pushed to completion as speedily as pos« sible.'

"As the broom and brush-ware referred, to are imported through agents into this colony, you will see how difficult it is for local manufacturers to compete against this class of convict labour. I would respectfully' point out that Xbo above is one of the causes of ho many of oar mechanics, yonnj? and old, boing I out of employment, and would ask your jkindly co-operation when, the tarriff question come before yonr honourable Hous6 in support of an extra tariff on all broom- and bi ush-ware, with the object of shutting ouo these prison-made articles from oar markets.—l am, &L W. 0. North, \ "Bfoora-faotorr. DunediD.V W. Earnshaffj Esq., M.H.E. "P.S.—I hftvp sent the original extraofc to the Hon. Mr Seddon. Kindly .do whatyoucanfor us."

The question was so , clear and explanatory that he would nob detain the House by pointing out .the gross injustice of such unfair trade cow potion as this. Hβ. thought thut it was a fit and proper action for the Government to take what* ever course was'necessary to prevent our workers in any trade or industry from having to compete with prisonlabour in any part of the world.

Mr Seddon said the Government were not aware at present of any means by which prison made artioles could be dietinguished, There was no donbt that goods of this description were imported from the United .Kingdom and other, places, but,. unless they were of a character to show their origin, it would be impossible for the Government to paes any prohibitory law , Ho thought this was a matter that might well bo considered by. tho committee that had been set up ,in regard to the local in* dostries of tho colony, and he should bo quite pleased himself to have this question dealt with by the Committee.-* Hansard.