ALIEN LABOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8912, 25 April 1907, Page 1

ALIEN LABOUR.

AN AUSTRALIAN CASE

United Press Association— By Electrio Telegraph — Cooyright. SYDNEY, April 24. Two members of the Tsinan's Chinese crew were charged with landing in Australia in contravention of the Contract Immigration Act. Counsel for the defence contended that a contract immigrant meant an immigrant under contract to perform manual labour in Australia. Accused were neither immigrants ' nor contract immigrants. Action had been taken by some strikers to serve their private ends.

Counsel for the prosecution claimed that the Act applied to men working on a vessel which was a foreign vessel so far as Australian waters were concerned. • He submitted that accused had landed in Australia because they were working on. an Australian boat. The Magistrate considered that the j charge had not been made out and dis- J missed the case. The prosecution stated that the case would probably go further. A large number of strikers watched the proceedings. [This case arose out of the strike of coal lumpers at Sydney. The men refused to coal the Tsinan aud two of the Chinese crew of the steamer were engaged working winches aboard a collier alongside. The strikers reported^ the matter to their Union and a warrant was issued charging the Chinese, as contract immigrants in contravention of the Immigration Act, with landing in Australia before the Miniet&r had approved of the contract.]