THE ALLEGED "TRUCK SYSTEM" ON THE AWAMOKO RAILWAY WORKS.

Evening Star, Issue 4113, 3 May 1876, Page 3

THE ALLEGED "TRUCK SYSTEM" ON THE AWAMOKO RAILWAY WORKS.

In consequence of the statements made in the letter of a discharged navvy named Henry Pope (published some little time back in our columns) alleging the existence of a system of “truck” in the payment of laborers on the Awomoko line of railway, an inquiry was instituted by the Executive, which has resulted in putting a very different face upon the matter to that detailed in the letter referred to, as will be seen by the following report to the Provincial Engineer, Mr W. Arthur, by Mr Dennison, Assistant Railway Engineer:

The men referred to were discharged for incompelency, and demanded an immediate settlement of their claims, to enable them to leave the district. In my absence, and on hia own responsibility, Mr Bnne did so by means of money orders on the local store-keeper. This bo did by special request of the men, who, by an arrangement with the storekeeper, received the amounts due to them, by signing over their vouchers to him for collection at the end of the month, |That there was no complicity between Mr Brine and the storekeeper I feel quite confident, and I understand the men were prepared to use intimidatxon, did he not at once accede to their request. I arrived at Awamoko from Dunedin on the day of the first publication, and cautioned Mr Brine that no such method of payment should again be resorted to, so that not even the semblance of a ‘ system of truck" should he complained of.

To this letter the Provincial Engineer appends the following memo. -.—“ Herewith Mr Dennison’s report on charges made against Inspector Brine. The mistake will not occur again, as Mr Brine has been cautioned. It appears he was intimidated in a manner by the men wishing to be paid at once, instead of waiting for their vouchers.” The above will, we think, fully reassure the public mind, by showing that no such state of things as a “system of truck” really existed ; and the result of the inquiry is, to say the least of it, anything but creditable to Mr Henry Pope.-— ‘ N, 0. Times.’