DEPUTATION.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2137, 12 March 1870, Page 2

DEPUTATION.

This morning a deputation of shipwrights had an interview with the Superintendent, with regard to the proposed extension of the Rati ray street wharf. Mr H. Dn iver, M.P.C , M.H.R., who introduced the deputation, said that he believed it was the intention of the Government to extend the Rattray street wharf some distance, and that the work was to be done by prison labor. The members of the deputation thought that it was unfair that prison labor should be employed in such a work — a work to be done by mechanics, while they were out of employment. They had been out of employment, he was told, for some months past. He thought there was reason in their complaint; and he quite agreed that it was quite impolitic, to say the least of it, to employ prison labor on work that mechanics should be employed upon, while a number of shipwrights remained idle. While prison labor was very good in filling up, dredging, and making roads, he thought it was scarcely fair, that bread should be taken out of the mouths of men who paid taxes and contr buted to the revenue of the Province. He hoped that his Honor would bring the matter under the notice of the Government, ami that they would give it careful consideration. He did not anticipate that the work would bo done by day labor, in the event of the Government acceding to the request of the deput ition, but he hoped that it would be let in contracts, so that the men might have an opportunity of tendering for it among themselves, or endeavoring to obtain employment of the successful contractor, whoever he might be. His Honor did not exactly know whether the prisoners were to be employed in filling up or at carpenter work ; possibly they were to be employed at both. The deputation had opened np a very wide question, and he was scarcely prepared to discuss it then. . , . Mr Driver remarked that, judging by the opinion expressed by his Honor some time before, he thought ho had his sympathy in the matter. He thought his Honor did not like to see men walking about idle while criminals obtained employment. His Honor replied that Mr Driver was quite right. He was very sorry that so many shipwrights wt-re out of employment, but he thought the reason was tint shipwrights here could not compete with other places in the Colony. Mr Thomson, one of the deputation, remarked that it was owing to the high price of timber.

His Honor said that timber was just as cheap here as in Auckland ; but shipwrights here could not compote with that place, because hero wages were 14s a day, and there 8s a day. It was very clear that the amount of employment received by shipbuilders here was not so large as it should be.

Mr Thomson repeated that it was owing to the difference in the price of timber that Otago could not compete with Auckland. His Honor replied that the difference was scarcely appreciable. Auckland had to get her supply of timber from the West Coast, and freight to that place was almost as high as it was to here. He had gone into the question very carefully. He did not know how they could get over the difficulty; there were no means of competing unless wages were somewhat equalised. Mr Driver was aware that to a certain extent ship-building was established as a business in certain places. He recollected that at one time, although wages were very low in Melbourne, there was not much trade in ship-building ; while in smaller places, where the people had taken it up in the beginning. it had become an established business. In Auckland it had been carried on for years, and it was now known as a shipbuilding port. His Honor said he would bring the matter under the notice of the Government; but he could not say what the result would he.

Mr Driver agreed that remunerative employment should be found for prisoners; they might be found plenty of employment in road-making and other works in the City. The City Corporation might assist the Government in this way. His Honor understood that there were a number of working men out of employment just now, and it was a question as to how they were to be employed. Probably they did not undertake such work as the prisoners did.

Mr Thomson observed that prison labor had been set down as equal to free labor. His Honor admitted that Mr Civ'dwell had set it down as such ; but he thought the estimate too high. Mr Thomson said a free man could do twice as much work as a prisoner, and there was no comparison between the work done. His Honor could not give a decided answer on the subject. After some further discussion,' His Honor said he was rather surprised to hoar that so many shipwrights were out of employment. Shipowners would not have repairs, except such as were absolutely necessary, executed hero, because wages were so high—as much as 15s per day being asked. Shipwrights ought to consider whether it would not bo better to equalise the rate of wages, and have constant work at 10s per day, rather than work by fits and starts for 20s. Ho was no advocate for reducing wages, yet ho thought this would be the better course to adopt. As ho had already stated, he would bring the matter under the notice of the Government. The deputation then withdrew.