The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1888. NOTES.
Much has been said and written about the " Sweating system " m vogue among manufacturers m large towns, and the startling statements made as to its horrors are not altogether without foundation. By cable the other day we learned that a reliable witness gave it as his opinion that the system so lowered and degraded those brought under it that lives of children m London, to the number of at least one thousand, were annually sacrificed that the insurance upon their lives might be received to keep body and soul of parents together. In Victoria, we learn from the report of the Inspector of factories, work rooms, and shops, that during the past twelve months 2,182 factories and work rooms were registered, or 282 over the registrations of 1886. The increase resulted from the opening of new factories and the discovery of unregistered establishments by the Inspectors. The number employes engaged m these places was 29,969 males andj 11,114 females. Fresh legislation to compel the keeping of record sheets was required to enable particulars to be obtained as to how far the sweating system was carried on. The chief defect m the existing law was that a work room did not become a factory unless six persons were employed m it, and it was possible for the system to be m force m such a place without the inspectors being cognisant of the fact. The Inspector is certain that many women have to work far more than eight hours per day. An approximate return of wages earned indicated that the majority of the male employes m. Victoria were paid on an average 45s per week at a trade. Boys received 10s per week ; women, 10s per week ; and girls, 9s per week. Great care had been taken to compel compliance with the Act by Chinese furniture makers. During 1887 25 factories, employing 341 Chinese, were registered, as against 23 factories, employing 329 Chinese, registered m 1886. It is only by having a strict supervision over factories and work rooms that the sweating system can be prevented ,
We published a paragraph a few weeks ago showing where the tea duty was likely to be sunk and it was then shown that Taranaki was to get the real benefit of the subsidies for which the amount raised from the tea duty was to be allocated. Now we see m an exchange the following : — Taranaki is always coming m for a big slice of Government plunder. Referring to the new hospital at New Plymouth, Dr McGregor m his annual report says : — "The new hospital is nearly twice as large as there is any occasion for at present, and there is a great deal of waste space. The greatest extravagance is m the waste of spaco and waste ■of monty m the bathrooms, closets and lavatories. The contract price for the new hospital is £5000 of which £3000 was paid by Government. The chairman of the Board and Mr J. T. Davis are sureties for the contractor. The son of the former, who is employed m 1 his father's business, is doing the painting, and the latter is doing the plumbingjwork."
The persistent attempts of two or three Home journals to try to harm this colony as much as possible by saying all mannar of spiteful things against it, have so far fallen short pf their mission and the successful floating of our last loan was rather a cruel blow to the power of these journals for evil. Doubtless these were many, who wrote against the oolony who hoped to reap a little pile out of their efforts, and without doubt, they would had their schemes been successful. The "Argns's" London correspondent writing by Jaßt mfl ij relative to the Loan says ; — r lhe success .of. thp New Zealand Loan was a surprise to everybody, and especially to those who a few* days previously had been deciding the issue and doing everything m their power to damage its prospects| m some of our financial organs. The heavy indebtedness of the colony had been paraded day by day with the evident intention of deterring the public Iffiva subscribing, while m. Stock Exchange .circles the coming issue had heen persistently; " beared." In spite of these tacticß, ■ however, there was quite an unexpected \ rash for the loan, as is evident from the fact that 604 tenders were sent m to (he Bank of England, amour ting to a total of £8,024,300, or more than four limes the sum asked. From this large number of applications it is evident that the public were eager to obtain,* share of the new 4 per cept stock oo buch, favprablp
terms. Although the bulk of the loan has undoubtely gone into the hands of a powerful syndicate, the chief feature m this operation seems to have been that two rival groups of dealers competed for the loan who outdid each other. One syndicate, owing to the lowness of the price offered by it, was completely defeated, and will obtain no allotment ; while the 'other (a more enterprising group) has secured a very large slice of the loan. It has been suggested that the reduction m the bank rate two hours before the delivery of the tenders had something to do with the successful floating ot the loan, and undoubtedly it contributed to that result. The prices offered ranged from the minimum (£96 10s) to £98 10s, and some of the tenders were for very large amounts. One tender was for £900,000 at £97 , 15s 6d ; three were for £500,000 each at £96 10s, £97 12s 6d, and £97 17s 6d j one was for £250,000 at £97 11s; three for £200.000 each at £96 10s and £97 Us ; tenders at £97 18s received about 76 per cent of the amount applied for, and those above that price m full. The average price obtained was £97 15s 7d. On the result becoming known considerable excitement was manifested, not only m investment, but also m speculative circles, and the market price both of the new and of the old stocks rose rapidly, as the syndicate tendering at the lower prices had already sold a consider able amount of stock m the market m anticipation of the allotment. Its failure to get what it wanted from the bank forced it to buy m the Exchange m order to cover its sales. A great demand was thus created m purely artificial ways, and the premium was run up above £2, and the New Zealand "ring," as it is called, hope ere long to carry 4 per cents to or over par.
The recent action of the Ashburton Porks School Committee re their Master has been severely commented on by other journals outside this district. The Christchurch "Telegraph" had a warm leaderette on the subject, and now the Dunedin " Evening Star " has the following under the heading of " W hat Next" .—At a place called Ashburton Forks there are seven individuals, yclept a School Committee, the compeers of whom are, we hope, not to be found m the colony. It seems that the teacher had the temerity to endeavor to better his position ; but the fact coming to the ears of a zealous Committeeman, he was the means of having a special meeting of the Committee convened, whereat this unique resolution was passed nem. con. : — " That as the master (Mr Hale) seems desirous of obtaining another school, he cannot have that interest m the school whioh the Committee cculd wish. I therefore propose that he be asked to resign." On receipt of this resolu tion the master addressed this dignified reply to the Committee. (Here follows Mr Hale's letter to the Committee, which has already appeared m these columns. ) The artifle then continues: — We read that the majority of the Committee were of opinion that "if a Committee could not dismiss or elect a master at pleasure, without consulting the Board, they were not wanted" ; and forthwith proceeded to give the unfortunate teacher the statutory three months' notice, a solitary member objecting to the illegal course that had been pursued. Of course the Board will veto these high-handed proceedings. Nothing but the cumulative vote could have furnished such a wonderful Committee.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1901, 25 July 1888, Page 2
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1,387The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1888. NOTES. Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1901, 25 July 1888, Page 2
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