THE TRUCK SYSTEM.

Dunstan Times, Issue 214, 2 June 1866, Page 3

THE TRUCK SYSTEM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE DUNSTAN TIHES. Sir, —To deal oppressively with the sons of labor is everything but creditable to ai WBloyer, and can only be deemed to him as a man by every wellbalanced mind in our social sphere. If under some favorable circumstances a man becomes possessed of capital to enable him; to employ other/to forward his speculative purposes, he neverthemore has any right to interfere in any way whatever with the disbursements of the hard earnings of these he may employ. In former years a tyranical system of dealing with the em-" ployed in connexion with extensive coal, mines and foundries existed. The wealthy ■companies kept their own store, and the workmen were compelled to liquidate their earnings in the purchase of provisions and clothing in their establishments at exorbitant prices, and the quality of the goods, ;as a general rule, was of the most condemnable class, Ready.money was a thing scarcely ever known among the: families of those employed, and conse-, quently they frequently suffered inconveniences of a very grievous nature. The sweating brow should have its earnings to deal with it at will, and the employer should be satisfied with the profits arising in a direct course out of the labor of the •employed, without seeking to realise profits in a covert manner by interfering with the the disbursement of his employees' earnings. I deem it a rank discredit to the DunStan district for me to be in a position to make public the fact—that the tyranical system referred to has been to some extent introduced where men are employed sluicing not a hundred miles from the ferry punt of Messrs. Dooley and M'Kerzie, Alexandra. The proprietary of the ground will employ no man except on condition that they deal exclusively with certain tradesmen for their required provisions. I need not pen more qualified expressions than that such a course of conduct is to be deprecated in the extreme, as it is grossly unjust towards the employed and their dependent families. Whether the proprietary in question shabbily pockets commission on the goods served, or is over-anxious to serve its friends, is not for me to determine ; but I am fully confident that all conscientious and libera'-minded men will decry the system, and I hope for the credit of the employers in the Dunstan district that it will be at once and for ever discontinued. I am, &c, A Brow that Sweats. Butcher's Point, 23rd of May, 1866.