THR RAILWAY EMPLOYES ON THE NORTH LINE, &c.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1353, 15 June 1878, Page 2

THR RAILWAY EMPLOYES ON THE NORTH LINE, &c.

To the Editor of the (i'lvl)e.

Sir,—l think the question you gave a short account about in your issue of Friday has a very important bearing on the general labor market of the colony, not so much from the information contained in that notice, but from a general knowledge of the particular grievance referred to, and I will with jour permission try to place it before the general public of this country. Sir, I don’t say I think they took the beet means of placing their case before the powers that be, Ac. But I maintain that they had a good case to vmt before the officials, and deserved a

better answer than the one they got. It is this. They have to leave Christchurch railway station about 7 a.m., and return about 7.15 p.m., making nearly thirteen hours each day, for which they receive 7s. I don’t know if you will think that a fair remuneration for men who complete 30 per cent, more labour than the same class do in the old country in the same time —see one of your leaders about the stamina of the New Zealand navvys, &c,, some eighteen months ago ? I, sir, make hold to say it is not, and if they want to be rid of those employes, they ought to employ other means and not goad them into leaving the service by tyrannical treatment. There is a notice posted in the workshop, Christchurch yard, specifying that no overtime will bo paid for as such up to 12 p.m., but at the ordinary rate per day, and Sundays at the rate of time and half, and the author of these modes of treatment to those under his charge stated a week ago that it was his intention not to start any men for the future who were over thirtyfive years of age. Now, sir, I contend if thirty-six is too old for Government service, it is for any other, and that it is the duty of all the working men and women of this country to inform their friends who might have any thoughts of coming to this country, and also take the proper means of making it widely known in the old country, and, at the same time, be on the look-out for another country for our children to go to, so that they may have a chance of receiving better treatment than we are getting here. Sir, a worm will turn when it is trod on. The working class of this country will not always submit. Perhaps they will turn when the country will most need their assistance, &c. Take their cause into consideration, and try to move them to the knowledge of their danger. They already have the power ; they only lack the sense to use it. Yours, &c., J. Waekbb, And in great danger of becoming a victim to the above rules, &c., &c.