Hard Hit By Minimum Wage Law: In Lumber Industry Only So Far row 4 Connesroxoent Vancouver, Aug. 2.
British Columbia's minimum wage law, expected to prove the strong [weapon ever wielded in this cou try against immigration of Orlrentals, ie already beginning to crowd [Chinese and Japanese out of industry.
Reports received at the Depart-tot Labour at the provincial Lat Victoria, B. C,, indicate that the leading lumber companies fare re-organizing their crews, and weeding out Orientals, in preparation for the enforcement of minimum wages of 40 cents (1s 84) per hour in the lumber industry, commencing from November 1 next.
With the enforcement of the new law, Orientals will lose their chief and almost only advantage in the labour market, their willing hess to accept wages lower than those at which the white man will work. It is a fact, neverthe that the white man has allowed the Orientals undisputed possession of the rouseabout work round a lum-
[ber mill, for which up to 25 cents (is) an' hour have hitherto been paid. But it is expected that the white man will overcome his natural aversion to this type of work when the rate of pay will make it worth his while to take it up permanently.
What the ultimate effect of the possible elimination of the 10,000 Jor so Chinese and Japanese that re employed at lumber mills may be, Labour Department officials are rot in a position to say. Tt is be-Hieved that many of them will be absorbed at once in the devolopments that are taking place in the pulp mills and in fish plants, a well as farming. The organization Jof the Chinese Benevolent Society Jand the Canadian Japanese Associ-prevent numbers of men being thrown in a heap on the about market, or becoming anything inthe nature of a public charge. The fact that no Orientals fare included in the vast numbers of workless drifters that make for the mild climate of Vancouver and the Coast towns in winter proves this.
The minimum wage board, set up under the new law, has made no: move yet to extend its) provisions ito other industries. It is under tod that their policy fs a gradual, raiher than arbitrary initiation of the Act, with the minimum of de rangement of industry and employ ment.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.