IN THE BUSH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1168, 1 July 1911, Page 4

IN THE BUSH.

*. TROUBLE ABOUT WAGES. (By Telegraph -Prc« A«<wtat!ori.l Auckland, Juno 30. A case of considerable interest to thosv employing workmen in bushes in tlio backblocks came boforo Mr. Kettle, S.M., today. It was brought by tho Inspector of Awards .against tho Totara Timber Co., for failing to pay workmen's wages at tho due date. The evidence showed that tho wages were not paid absolutely on tho due date. The mills are 101 and 51 miles from any bank, and the men were separated in parties in tho bushes, so that it was impossible to pay them on tho samo date. Tho result was that tho men were not paid at intervals of U days, the money being held sometimes from four to five days after the due date. Mr. Golius, who appeared for the Department, quoted from a loiter received about Ihe pay being held back, and tho impossibility of getting advances. Tho letter concluded:—"lf this is not hard lines and a flagrant breach of the award I don't know what is." Mr. Heed explained that the reason why advances were not made was because tho company did not want the singlo men playing "two-up" every daj in the week. The married men had no trouble about setting ndv.inces. The wages paid at Putaruru were 10 per cent, over tho award, and at Mokai 25 per cent, abovo it. ) Mr. Kettle: An honr and substantial compliance with the ti .rd was all they could hope for. They. ;imod at perfection, but know it could liiot be actually attained. Mr. Gohns paid it had been suggested to hira by the union that by holding (he men's wages in hand tho company prevented them leaving. Mr Heed said the trouble was tlio "two-np" business. The single man now went to the Maori whares to play it, and after pay-day it was hard to get them to work. One man had bopn working for the "two-up" school sinco Christmas. A number of spielers went round tho mills at pay l.ime. Mr. Keltic: AYhero are the police? Mr. Heed: 11 is fifty miles from any iwlicemau. Mr. Kettle: Then the company should swiwr-in snceinl constables. H. B. Couito, manager of the Tanpo Timber Company. do\xw<l that the company's operalions extended over 55 miles. Tlio men in the lirsh had their money sent them. He could not think of any means by which tho money could be paid any more, speedily, A man'could lcavo any lime he liked during the month, nnd l)c paid what was due to him. Tho monthly pay-sheet was nlwut .{2500. Tho information was dismissed.