A STOSEMAN'S UNION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 3

A STOSEMAN'S UNION.

Sir —Could you spare me a few inches of your valuable paper to air a grievance which 1. am sure is felt by a considerable number of workers holding positions similar to mine. 1 hold the enviable position of storeman and packer —yes, head storeman and packer— with stock-keeping thrown in. lam considered trustworthy enough to have charge, of goods averaging £10,000, therefore can you blame me when in moments of ecstasy I should wish to drink the health of my employers? Unfortunately, when putting my hand in my pocket, I find that I have, only the keys of tho warehouse and my tram fare-home, which has tho effect of cooling my ardour effectually. You sec, sir, iny firm grants mo tho munificent salary of 40s. per week, with which, being a married man, I am supposed to keep a. wife and family. Xow, I have to admit; sir, that 1 can just feed my family arid pay my rent, gas, and coal, and treat myself to sixpenny worth of tobacco a week; but a problem that is puzzling mo greatly and causing mo no end of worry is tho. providing of clothes, etc. 1 havo not yet decided whether I should canvass from door to donr on a cadging expedition for some 'Meft-ofl's" or ask my boss for my £2 yearly bonus in advance.

I don't for a moment suggest that all or nearly nil storcmen get such low salaries, but 1 happen to be acquainted with seven or eight storemen, live of whom arc very much underpaid. 1 firmly believe that the low salary paid by employers to storemen here is a disease that is likely to become epidemic unless something is done. How is it, Sir, that a storeman at Homo receives on an average a greater salary than the average craftsman? Is it because a- storeman (whose position is undoubtedly one of considerable trust) has ample opportunities of violating bis trust? Is it because there, is a much wider srope for disposing of stolen goods in the Old Country than here? I think tho answer is easily discernible. Now, Sir, I won't take up. any more of your valuable time and paper, but should like to take this opportunity of suggesting that an effort bo niado to form a Storcmen and Packers' Union. Trusting that abler pens than mine take, tho matter up,—l am, etc., "IMPRIMATUR."