CHINESE LAUNDRIES. CONDITIONS In AUCKLAND.

 <By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The position of the Chinese laundrymen in Auckland was outlined to the Labour Bills Committee when taking evidence of the Factories Act Amendment Bill. William Tong, Chinese interpreter, of Auckland, said the provisions of the bill w«uld seriously affect Chinese laundries. Most  of the Chinese laundry businesses in Auckland were on a small scale, conducted by one or two men. They started work in the morning at seven o'clock, when they did their washing. The weather was relied on for drying the clothes; no machinery was used, and it was all hand work. Three and a-half shirts to the hour was good going for an average ironing hand. Most laundries were run by partners, and veryffew employed men. The Chinese -were poor when they came here, and as a rule could only start business with a friend or partner. They washed three times a week, and ironed three times a week, and while the clothes were getting dry they idled and did nothing. Some earned 25/ per week. An especially good ironer got about £2- Meals were supplied free. The number of Chinese in Auckland was decreasing. The number of Chinese laundries there totalled about 33. Some of them remained open till late at night to receive parcels of washing. There had been a considerable falling off in the laundry trade, and three shops in Ponsonby had recently been closed. Mr. Poole: Are the people having less washing done? —No, the Chinese are getting less to do. Mr. Luke: Do you conform to sanitary regulations? —Everything is done to the satisfaction of the inspector. Mr. Luke: There is no cutting of prices?—No, the Chinese have all the one price. Mr. Luke: You feel that you could not carry on within the hours prescribed by the Act?—l am sure of it. Mr. McLaren-. Are there any European laundries in Auckland run by one person j—yes, there is one open till all hours of the night. Mr. McLaren: Do they employ labour? —Yes, three girls. Mr. McLaren: Midnight is not a fitting hour for women? —I do not think so. The witness urged that the Chinese laundries should be granted longer hours than was proposed in the bill. Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 263, 5 November 1910, Page 9