REDUCTION OF WAGES.

Evening Star, Issue 4058, 28 February 1876, Page 3

REDUCTION OF WAGES.

1 At noon to-day a number of men in tie employ of the Provincial Government waited upon the Superintendent and presented tie following memorial, which fuljy explains the object of the deputation:— . .

We, the undersigned, being Provincial Government laborers, humbly show teat the Inspector of Works has informed ua that, after to-day, obr present rate of wages is to be reduced from eight to. seven shillings per day. We respectfully submit that if such a reduction be made it will inflict upon us and our families a hardship hard to be borne. This will appear from tee.following considerations: —l. The winter is advancing, and with it we may reasonably expect to' lose a great deal of time through the wetness of tew weather, a. We anticipate a rise in the price of provisions (this is usually the casein tee vtinter months): as also the price of fuel, which is already notified to take place next month, and from the coldness of the season, the consumption will also considerably increase. 3. House' rent is not likely to be lower; tee present rate being very high, which, together with all tee attendant expenses of maintaining Cur family is sufficient to near without having to submit to a reduction of wages. Knowing yonr Honor’s liberality of disposition ho confidently submit our case for your lust consideration. -Wm. North, Laurence Irvine, Allan Gordon,. Bobert Jeffrey, W. Brown, W. D. M‘Arthur. Jas. Tobin. Donald Claris Wm. Nutt, Francis Tain, Merlin King, Angus Campbell, John

The Mayor, who introduced the deputation, said that he had made Inquiries and found that the petitioners' had neon working ter the Government for the last ten or fifteen, months as platelayers and laborers, and with the exception of two they were married, with families averaging four children When the facts set forth in the memorial were takeu into consideration, it was inadvisable for the Government to be the first to reduce the rate of pay of men who had not been clamorous for or professed to be in want of work. The steady- habits and perseverance of the men should be an inducement for the Government to keep them in, their employ. His Honor said he had no desire to see war es reduced: on the contrary, became it was a good sign when wages were high The object < f the Government in giving this notice had been, if possible, to induce the parties ,to betake themselves to; tee country. The Government were beseiged with applications from the country saying th„t they could givinglabor at higher rates than Were being paid in town. /The object of the Government was chiefly to Induce these parti s to find their way into the interior, which would certainly be more advantageous for themselves. The Mayor was inclined to th nk very dif- ■ ferantly, because the Government would be losing experienced men. His Honor understood that the works upon .which fhbse men were engaged were not of such a very pressing nature but .that they could stand still if necessary i. in l fact they were gone into partly with a view'«f finding employment for new “rivals. He thought it was, a matter- to be regretted that, when labor was in demand throughout the , interior ef the country; men would prefer remaining: In tow hi However, he would bring the matter before the r xecutive again and sesi if ho could get thAt body to reconsider it, but. he had no great bope that they would come to any other deci. sion. The matter had been very well discussed add; considered by the ibcechtfve. I He repeated that thereww plenty of employment tobehAdin the country, in some parts ef which men could not be get at twelve shillings a day. ~. ; , One of the deputation remarked thatthat would be for single men. "■ \ His Honor presumed they would employ none but males. \ - Another ot the deputation pointed out tbat laboring men on the railways got seven sbilr lings a-day, but they had no broken time, and with them holidays did not go for nothing. » Hb Honor thought if the men would Only see tea matter in tee true light it would be td teeir interest to locate themselves outside of Uunediu. Of course, there was a very great tendency to concentrate in Dunedin. As to the prices of provisions and fuel, be was not award of whatwas likely to increase prices in *he winter. He shonld think fuel would he cheaper in winter by re&son of th© i&ilw&ys bringing in

One of the. deputation remarked that a rise of 2b per ton in the price of coal had been adi ■vertiaed.

fiONOB expected that when the Kaitan. satapits wereopen the.prices would be brought <d.own. The Executive would meet to-morrow] wr r* petition would then come befo e them! advised all the parties concerueci th\ it they could not do better than take theinselvesto the country. With their going to the c ountry there was . more likelihood of their sowing down upon a piece of land of their own, * n be W in Dunedin. This Wats tne first ateo towards becoming settlers, Another of the deputation, said men with families could not go the country. 331s Honob ; Mob with families have gone to Uie country before now. At the Carriijk! »aage tbtMrr-li emproyment obtainable. Tnaremen cannot be got though they are offer-, mg twelve shillings per day. This probably! vS? dOTe » Uttle ‘earlier-' b^ VMfc oommencfed •itis ‘ now tooJate. .If yon go into-the country and get the Government desideratwany reduction m the rate' of wages. I should prefer to see a fair and moonaHe rate rather than a little below the mart - . Tbe deputation then withdrew. ’