LAUNDRY HOURS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2577, 11 August 1909, Page 3

LAUNDRY HOURS.

EUROPEANS V. CHINESE

DEPUTATION TO THE HON, J. A. MILLAR. With a view of securing amendments to the Factories Act, which would bring about equality of competition between Europeans and Chinese engaged in tile laundry business, a deputation of representatives of the European humdry firms throughout the Dominion waited upon the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Labor, in Wellington, last week

Mr. Fisher, M.P., in introducing the deputation, pointed out that its members did not represent the large steam laundries as against the small European laundries, but a com Lunation of the two, to protest against the privileges that were enjoyed by the Chinese, and not by any other section of the com-" munity. tie went on to say that at the present time the Chinese sold tobacco and groceries up to 11 o’clock at night and carried on laundry work at all hours, whereas European laundry firms and other tradespeople were not. granted the same facilities. The deputation did not ask that advantages should be given to the European as against the Chinese, but recognised that when a Chinaman paid a poll tax lie had the right to enjo- the privileges of the law. In this instance, the man in the laundry found that he was worse off, although he were New Zealand born, because he was not a Chinaman. What the deputation asked was that that anomaly' should be removed. There were, ho continued, 38 Chinese laundries in Auckland, and 41 in Wellington. Only last month six new firms had started in Wellington. Unless the Factor" Act was amended there was every probability . that the Chinese would collar the laundry trade, as they had- collared every branch of trade in which they had embarked. The deputation, he added, represented, the views of European laundry men from North of Auckland to Invercargill. Mr. Naismith, and other members of the deputation, said that they only wanted fair legislation to protect themselves against unfair competition of any kind. Under the existing conditions, Chinese laundrymen were in a better position than Europeans in the business. It was stated that the European firms employed female labor, and the hours of work were limited to forty-five per week. As the Chinese did not employ women workers they' were under no such restrictions'. As there were a great snany Chinese laundries in Wellington the European firms here were feeling the competition to a serious extent. It was alleged that Chinese could be seen working every evening, on Saturday afternooils, on all holidays, and frequently an Sundays./ V hat was desired was an amendment of the Factories’ Act, which would place all firms, whether European or Chinese, on the same footing. Mr. M'Laren, M.P. stated that the appeal was not one for discrimination in favor of the European as against the Asiatic, but a protest against discrimination in favor of the Asiatic as against the European. It was his opinion that the Chinese were- gradually sweeping the Europeans out of the laundry' business. Mr. Wilford, M.P. thought the whole point was whether the Chinese should be allowed to oust the European. If the Chinese could come to New Zealand and set up their industries, the Europeans could not compete with them. Mr. Wriglit, M.P., concurred in the views that had been expressed. The Minister said that they were dealing with a very thorny subject. Two years ago lie had endeavored to prevent the growth of what was now the subject of coipplaint, by suggesting that no Chinaman shou.d lie allowed to be registered as the owner of any factory after the passing of the Factories Act The proposal of the deputation including as it did the imposition of restrictions on the Chinese, would have to be placed beiore the Imperial authorities. When the Chinese were admitted into the country after complying with the conditions laid down they' had the same rights as the Europeans. V hat was now proposed by the deputation was to take away those rights. Ho might say that he was in entire sympathy with the deputation. Already he had sent along an outline of a clause which he thought should meet the case. It was his intention, oven it he had to bring up the clause as a .Bill separate from the Factories Act, to introduce his proposal before Parliament. From inquiries he had-made it would appear that the Chinese did not canvass for orders, nor did they deliver the goccls. Mr. Fisher mentioned a ease where a large order was sent to a Chinese laundry' owing to the fact that a European firm could not. obtain overtime permits for three nights running. Mr. Millar pointed out that under the Factories Act only two overtime permits could be given in one week. He had instructed the Department to supply him with a full report concerning Chinese laundries. Only two Chinese laundry employers in Wellington paid wages; the others, were working in partnerships. In coping with the difficulty' he wished to avoid the necessity of having amendments which would first have to be submitted to the Home authorities. '

STATEMENT BY CHINESE CONSUL. THE INTERNATIONAL ASPECT. Mr. Yung-Liang Hwang, the Chinese Consul, has been going into the questions brought before the Minister of Labor by The Europeon laundry proprietors, and has obtained detailed statements from his fellow-countrymen engaged in the laundry business in Wellington. When seen by a “Dominion” reporter, Air. Hwang sought to remove several common impressions which he had regarded as erroneous. He stated that it was a mistake to suppose that' the Chinese laundrymen worked at cheaper rates than _ their European competitors. Their price list would show that their charges were higher than those of the Europeans. The Chinese only washed the smaller pieces of clothing, and did not go to the. steamers, hotels, and boarding-houses to collect the large pieces. They washed very little but collars and cuffs) not many shirts, and no bed or table linen. They did : not collect or deliver their work, but their customers had to bring it to them. Under these conditions, and without machinery, it was impossible of them to do a large enough business to compete with European steam laundries employing 20 to 30 women and girls. In regard to working hours, Air. Hwang read a statement handed to him on behalf of the. Chinese laundrymen of Wellington, to the effect that they never wash on Saturday? or Sundays( only half the day on Alondays, and a few hours only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and a very little oil ILidays, Oh the queeticii of

partnership among ,the Chinese laxindrymon, Mr. Hwang noted the Minister’s statements that all the Chinese laundry workers in Wellington, except two, were working in small partnerships. He had no doubt that the inspectors. had given a correct report, as the Chinese would not be inclined to deceive them, and would scarcely' be able to, oven if it would be in their .interests to do so. He believed, that .these partnerships were perfectly genuine and bona fide, as he had seen some of the deeds, and had been appealed to for‘assistance, in settling partnership disputes. Mr. Hwang strongly urged that if these partnerships of Chinese.' wore to be in way restrained b~ law,’ similar retractions must in fairness bo placed upon all partnership in all kinds'of business. Otherwise there would, be racial discrimination against the Chinese, who were now simnly carrying on their business in accordance with the law. “If the Now Zealand Government helps these people to restrict the Chinese interest,” he continued, “why should we not restrict the European traders in China, and discriminate against them? If you want us to treat you well you should treat us well. In China we protect tiro interests of the Europeans, and they make millions of money and take it home with, them and build mansions. We are not jealous of them, but it seems to me that the New Zealand Government should also protect foreigners. Otherwise they will not be showing international courtesy or proper consideration: The Chinese, ivho are foreigners here, are not what people call hustlers, like the Americans ; they' simply' come here to do a little quiet work, and the Europeans have no need to take these proposed precautions against them.”