STONEMASONS’ WAGES.

Evening Star, Issue 3879, 30 July 1875, Page 2

STONEMASONS’ WAGES.

To the Editor . Sib, —As you are acquainted with the remark the Magistrate made some time ago, that masons’ wages up-country were at a pound a day, and as this remark was commented upon in letters which appeared in the columns of your paper, it might be presumed that further comment was uncalled for. However, facts must necessarily dethrone vague theories, and it is the occurrence of one of these stubborn fdcts that has prompted me to call the atten* tion of your readers to the actual state of things. I applied this morning for a job at masoning up country, and what was my surprise at being told that the wages were to be °uly twelve shillings per day, or two or three shillings below town prices. Where is that imnginary pound a day? I admit that far south, in 'Quite out-of-the-way places, whore one s skill is needed but perhaps a few days out the twelve months, oue might get the much talked about pound a day, but 1b this to be depended upon? Certainly not. The Magistrate seems to forget that where wages are the highest work is, as a rule, more fluctuating and the less to be depended upon. I would sum up my remarks by saying that it would be well for us masons to get work in town at the town rate of wages, but when we cannot even get enough of that how are we to be expected to go up-country, where the chances of a mason getting work are less than they are in town, and where the pound a day is more in the mouth of the employers than in the pockets of those employed.—l am, &0., A Maiok. Dunedin, July 28. „