DISMISSAL OF RAILWAY MEN.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 329, 1 February 1902, Page 2

DISMISSAL OF RAILWAY MEN.

LETTER FROM THE PREMIER,

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, last night. A letter has been received by the Chamber of Commerce from the Premier in answer to the requisition of the Chamber regarding the dismissal of the men from the railway works having forced some traders into the bankruptcy Court. Mr Seddon pointed out that when the contractor employed men by the day or week he did not study the interest of traders or storekeepers in the vicinity of the work, and in the case of co-operative works the Government were in exactly the same position as a private contractor who employed men when necessary. He considered it quite a new doctrine that the interests of traders were to be studied as a factor in public works. He would respectfully suggest that the Chamber had overlooked the fact that the losses in question were included in the risks of trade.

g Government had paid men, and concluded - they would settle with storekeepers, and it s they had not done so it was surely too s much to blame the Government for the r non-payment of debts between private - persons. 1 The letter was received, the Chairman > remarking that it showed the necessity of j being careful as to what kind of letters they sent the Premier. In reply to a question'as to how long

the present stoppage of public works will continue, the Premier said that under the Public Revenue Act, after the 31st of March, they couid spend for the next three months on the same basis as last year, so there was a prospect that work would he resumed after the 31st of March, should circumstances warrant such 8 course.