Legislative Council.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7845, 10 September 1904, Page 6

Legislative Council.

py Telegraph—-Press Association}, Wellington, Last-Night. The Council met at 2.80"p.m. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were read for the first time on the motion os#tie Attorney - General: — Scholarships Bill, Education Acts Compilation Bill, Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Acts Compilation Bill, Marriatre Acts Compilation Bill. CHINESE LABOUR IN THE TRANSVAAL. The debate on the AttorneyGeneral's motion expressing regret at the introduction ot Chinese labour inta the Transvaal, was resumed by the Hon. F. Arkwright. He regretted the introduction ot Chinese as a disturbing element in a country were there were already many disturbing elements, but he hoped that the motion would not be passed, inasmuch as it. was tantamount to a vote of censure upon the British Government respecting the Chinese question, and the Council should be very cautious ■ before passing such a resolution. It did not seem to him that this' question was an Imperial one in a broad sense. It did not, he thought, affect New Zealand, nor any other part of the Empire. So far from interfering with the employment of British labour, the introduction ot Chinese would, he thought, open up a wide field for British labour. He concluded by moving the previous question, viz., that the question be now put.

The Hon. G. McL9an seconded the amendment. It must have bean, he said, as a last resort that the British Government and Lord Milner recommended the introduction of Chinese labour into the Transvaal, when the British Government knew it would be an unpopular movement, and yet it sanctioned it. The necessity for the employment of Chinese to keep the mining industry going tor the benefit ot the country must have been felt to be imperative. Instead of passing a resolution that would embarass the Transvaal Government they should sympathise with that Government in some way. There was no fear of the Transvaal being overrun with Chinese as the men imported had to be deported at the close ot their term of indenture.

The Hon. A. Lee Smith, in supporting the original motion described the employment of indentured Chinese labour as " a real outright slavery." Not only were the Chinese to be under the charge of the mine owners during labour hours, but after labour, and they and their wives and families were to be placed under lock and key in compounds. There was no provision for holidays for these people, and at the end of their term they were to be allowed no rights in the country, but were to be shipped back to the place whence they came. Athenian and Koman slaves were allowed to acquire property in the country, but not these indentured Chinese. The whole reason of the shortage of labour was that the mining magnates of the Eand wanted cheap labour. As soon as the war (which he believed the mining magnates encouraged) was over the wages for Native labour were materially reduced. He referred to the danger ol revolt by hordes of Chinese in order to emphasise the unwisdom of the ordinance, sanctioned by the Imperial Government, whole interests in the Transvaal and Orange Colony were being sacrificed for the purpose of benefiting a few mine-owners. Everything required lor the Chinese would be imported, and no benefit to the Transvaal would result iroin the expenditure upon the imported labour. The introduction of Chinese would be disastrous in the long run to the Transvaai, to Great Britain and to the whole of the colonies. It was both a blunder and a crime. It was a mockery of civilisation, and a blot upon our escutcheon.

The Hon. H. Scotland said he was unable to speak as to the necessities of the Transvaal, but he believed Lord Milner was thoroughly alive to the interests of the country, and would not have advocated the importation of Chinese if he did not believe it would be for the welfare of the country. He pointed out that the Transvaal was not the only place where slavery existed. This colony ought to mind its own business. It was not competent to express an opinion upon the needs of South Africa. He would support the Attorney-General's motion.

The Hon. G. Jones moved the adjournment of the debate until Tuesday.

The Council rose at 4.40 p.m.