DUNEDIN CLERKS.

Evening Star, Issue 3769, 23 March 1875, Page 2

DUNEDIN CLERKS.

To the Editor.

Siß,--It was with much pleasure I read the leading article in yesterday’s issue of your an d, without doubt, the facts expressed will be endorsed mentally by every right-minded pers m ; but unhappily, if no action is taken by some of the leading firms to put an end to the complaint, I fear that it will continue. It is unaccountable, except through selfish motives, why clerks should be over-worked and underpaid. If the demand is less than the supply of this class of industry, can any employer call himself honorable who takes advantage of the circumstance ; who will not consider that he should pay his clerks sufficiently well to enable them to keep a respectable coat bn their backs, and live decently, consistent with their office ’ and who overtasks them so that late hours are becoming the rule instead of the exception which is nominally professed to, be the base? T his kind of thing is positively disgraceful, and leads some employers to assume an independent, if not an arrrogant, tone when a complaint is raised by their clerks, and an endeavor to make it too “hot” for them to remain in their service any longer. Now, Sir, r would ask any employer if ,b e « uld u ke t0 have ? . sefc of Bhabb y clerks in his office because nothing but respect for their situation and themselves makes the poor clerk dress decently and stint himself to do it. B 2nd. Is it not dishonorable to take more from a man+han he owes you f A clerk owes his principal his services during legitimate business hours, that is, from 9a. m. to sp. m. If his workja excessive, assistance should be got at onoegwithout delay, but if overtime is agreed to by the clerk, he surely deserves extra pay in equal proportion to his salary. lam glad to say this is earned out by some'of the largest firms in the old country. 6 In conclusion, merchants and other employers of clerics are aware that the price of nearly everything has nsen considerably within the last few years, and in consequence clerks’ t0 p S? “ creased also to Uve at ad. Bank of England and other banks besides some leading mercantile firms at Home’ have given a bonus or raised all the salaries since the increase m the prices of articles, so why should all others not follow ? This grievance should be thoroughly looked into, especially now, when the employers are all more or less prosperous Their clerks should share that to some extent with them, as they suffer through dismissal or otherwise when business gets slack. The knife cuts both ways, and any employer wb °l'^ nbe . edin gdy -passes by this just question with the thought that be cannot be troubled to look into it, or possibly it will not be to his advantage to do so, deserves contempt, and will receive his reward at the great tribunal.—l am, &c.,

Dunedin,March 18. Nokuesompt.