AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 834, 4 June 1910, Page 13

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY

DISAPPOINTED BOY IMMIGRANTS, Sydney, May 25. . Among the steerage passengers on the Osterley, which arrived at Melbourne on Monday, were 20 boys selected in' London by the Central Immigration Board from a host of applicants. The "Argus" Bays that this board has nothing to do with any of the Australian Governments. It ia presided over by the Duke of Sutherland, and many other notable men are ' on its directorate. It consequently inspires confidence in those who apply. Tlwse 30 boys wore told that they would He placed on approved farms, with people who would be interested • in them. They would be treated as members of the family, and would receive 10s. to 15s. a week as a beginning, in addition to BoaTd and lodging. They were given to understand at first that their fares would be paid for them. Tlicso terms, set out in advertisements in tho London papers, were so attractive that a great number of boys applied. They were medically examined at the Middlesex Hospital, and tho 30 soundest were selected. A few days before the date of sailing they were told that they would have to pay .£l2 for their passa'go money. 'All of them could not do so, but they were allowed to pay whatever they could, and enter into signed, agreements with the secretary of the board to pay back the remainder in. sis monthly instalments, commencing on September 1' As they were coming out to wages of 10s. and Ms. a week thfiy cheerfullv threw up their old positions and accepted the new terms offered. One of the boys who came to Victoria was earning 225. 6d. a week as a butcher. Others were receiving 175., 155., and 12s. 6d. a week. The lowest wage received by any was Ss a week. All were getting their b'oard as well. Seven of these toys were booked to Melbourne by the ■ Eev. Mr. Gwynue, the chief organiser, of the central board. He gave the boys.the addresses of three gentlemen to call on wh«n they roached'Melbourne, but unfortunately ho omitted to notify these genilemen. The Victorian Immigration Office, however, finding the boys aboard the Osterley on her arrival, decided to take charge of them, but of course, the boys were sadly disappointed on learning.that, they would only receive ss. a week instead "of the 10s. to 15s. which had been promised. They are in fact, placed upon the same terms' as some boys who were sent out by tho Victorian Agent-General not lon» a»o. They ere to be paid ss. a week at first, with increments of 2s. 6d. a' week every six months, up to a maximum. They have to be treated like members of tho family, and instructed in the art of farming, and are to be under the care of the Government.

WOULD PREFER POLITICS. , The "Argus" further relates that wjiile tie disappointed ' boy immigrants whose story is told in the preceding paragraph wera explaining their grievance to tlie State immigration officers/a well-known Labour member entered the room, and at ance started to harangue the boys on the situation. Air they Tiring you out here for is to provide themselves with cheap , f lv 1 "Mings'a week, indeed !* A bystander broke in, "Never mind; they _will all go into politics and earn good livings. The Labour member grew wrathful at qucel, while the boys <rrew curious. "W&o is he?" they asked. They were told thjtt he Was a very excellent gentleman, who was once a labourer, and ffrasi now ft member of Parliament, and paid £5 a week. "Six pounds a week!" one of them said. "I suppose he saves £? of f„ „ In 4h , e Federal Parliament they get ..£l2 a week," he was told. The lad, who hails from Brixton, thought for a moment, then he said, "Look here, mf«ter- l, m , S° in S in f<n politics. I don't ■want to learn farming. How do yon eet into thißpaTliament-the £12 a week one I mean?

. THE TJNDER-RATE WORKER. As ta New Zealand so also, in Neir South Wales, tho under-rate worker is a difficulty in the industrial svstem as repeated by arbitration law. '"Slow workers have.very few friends," said Judge Heydon in the Industrial Court a day or two ago. "The employer as a rulo does not care about him unless he can get him for something less than he is actually worth; unless he can get something oiit of nun. The other employees don't like him because he wants to work for less than the' minimum wage. He is a very unfortunate man. He has a right to earn his Irving, but is hampered by tho minimum ,wage "clause. However, the Act, to protect him, has laid it down that he can go to the Industrial "Registrar and get a permit to work at a lower rate. Until lie does get that permit," said his Honour, emphatically,' "the employer is not justified in giving him less than the minimum, wage." The defendant in the case before tie Court, who admitted having done what his Honour said he was not justified m> doing, said the employee in question had now got a permit, but his firm ootddi not pay him even the rate fixed by the Registrar. "I can't turn my business into ; a benevolent society," he added. man is very old. He is 52, and his eyesight/is bad." "Fifty-two does not Beem to ; be very old," replied his Honour. He added with a sign, "I cannot be a epecial/Trovidence ftnd take care of tho world.; I have one little .narrow circle in ■which to do my duty. I can understand that you ( (the defendant) are annoyed, but try not to vent your annoyance on the unfortunate'employee. Get even with me, er Tilth the secretary of the union." A'NEW HEALTH RESORT? >*Huh! I can't criticise your statepent j I'm not 'a medical man. But it is the most extraordinary thing I have ever heard." The remark canio in surprised tones from Mr. Clara, who is conducting the case for the employees before the Water and Sewerage General Workers' Board, as a comment on evidence given by Dr. E. S. Stokes. Tho witness stated that according to his experience conditions seemed to be more favourable from a health point-oi view with the men working in the sewers than with . men working above ground. Ho held the position of medical officer for tho Water Board, and had prepared a tabulated statement showing the cases of sickness among the board's employees during 2J years. In that time he found that cases of sickness among the sewer workers amounted to 15.3 per cent.' Tho percentage amongst employees in the mgineer-in-chief's department was 29.G, and in other departments in the board's Borvico 35.8. The average among tho whole of the board's employees was 26 6 so that cases of sickness among workers in tho sewers were 11 per cent, below the overage. The witness added tlint Sydney sowers wore apparently very free, from poisonous gases. He presumed tlmt was due to the skill T.-itli wh!r!i they were constructed. Thorc V.-.-.S aot an undue proportion of blcod poisoning among ;the men workin? i:> the sewers. "Theoretically (here mißli' ly." ho added, "but we ore told n lot. of things in theory that nro not frm- in practice." Aa a-pnrting' Fliot 3lr. f.lara asked whether working in flic sere-, would prolong life. Tho witness, however, would not say. "I can eive no opinion on that," he replied. "It *"oiild be mere guesswork." THE SILVER COINAGE. It is noteworthy that' the designs of iUblTalia'9 new silver coinage will have to be altered in -one very important reapect beforo another instalment is minted. The R.M.S. Ostorley brought to Melbourne Iliis wool; a consignment consisting of two million threepenny pieces <.C2.),000). This completes the worth of silver coinage -which was ordercii by the Federal Government. Tlic eilve:- was lodged with the Melbourne Mint, aiii{ will bo available foi distribution at once. It is not expected that any further supplies of silver will lie needed i'or about 12 months, and in the meantime the dies will probably be altered by substituting the head of King George V for that of the late King Edward. The Treasury is still waiting nilvices as to the consignment of .£IO,OOO of pennies and halfpence, which were ordered some little time ago.