DREDGEMEN'S WAGES.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 363, 23 April 1903, Page 5

DREDGEMEN'S WAGES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, Evidently “ Breadwinner ” possesses more vitality than sense. He still repeats “Wages ai’e soon to come down.” He conveniently forgets I have twice distinctly asked for a decent reason for bis absurd statement. Instead of sticking to the point at issue ho warily shifts his ground, and now •boldly challenges me to disprove someI thing that is not, or never was, in dis-

pute. I have no wish to attempt the feat of disproving the truth, but leave that to himself. Wages paid to firemen on any particular dredge five months ago is irrelevant. He might as well talk of the height of the river five months ago. He says I " affect to throw cold water on his statement that wages are soon to some down." There is no " affect" about the matter. I not only throw cold water on his statement, but pelt him with blocks of ice. He says " True Blue " hits the nail on the head when he says vacancies can be easily filled at 8s per shift. I have already shown " True Blue" that there are insurmountable difficulties in the way of filling vacancies at anything less than the rate fixed by the award. However, I do wish " Breadwinner " would hit something on the head, as it is a dry job replying to a confused heap of rubbish. " Breadwinner " is "at sea " with respect to the operation of the award; nor will I enlighten him further than to say that were vacancies to be filled by Chinamen, the meek celestial would have to be paid up to the terms of the award. Through pure " cussedness," " Breadwinner" pretends not to understand this, his object being apparently to create strife, and promote feelings of bitterness. He says " there is a day of reckoning coming." Probably he refers to the Day of Judgment. I should not think there was much consolation in the reflection for him. He says I am " playing a losing game," whereas I am merely a spectator like himself. The " game," as he calls it, has been going on for centuries. In spite of innumerable defeats, persecutions, and starvations —in face of wealth, power, ignorance, and prestige the game has been progressing. There has always been some brave soul with his head above the waves, burdened with the flag of " Hope " and " Justice." Though progress has been slow, the power behind the movement is irresistible. The subHme, glacier-like advance — silent, stupendous the inherent energies of the race—can never be walled back, but will continue till tyrants of the " Breadwinner " type are rendered harmless, till they become sufficiently humanised to understand that the earth, and all that in there is, was not built and created solely for their enjoyment.—l am, <fcc, J. H. Davidson,