THE ALLEGED TRUCK SYSTEM.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1491, 15 May 1873, Page 2

THE ALLEGED TRUCK SYSTEM.

Arnold and AHiuRA Road, j (to the editor.) ; Sir — Unavoidable absence from toiwn, as well as the difficulty in getting papers delivered regularly .here, prevented jour addressing you before relative to ithe grave charges made against the contractors on the Arnold and Ahaura road respecting the truck system. We should haye 1 endeavored to convince you that the. charges made in the first instance by "Workings man" were unfounded, as far as: w© are concerned, had he thought proper! to sign his own name, and' also mentioned, the name of the contractors who {had' treated him so badly. We think ; the. speakers at the public meeting would have acted more independently and straightforwardly if they-, had mentioned ; the names of the contractors by whom they, had been so frightfully oppressed. With respect to a number of hands being, discharged as soon as they had procured tools and worked out the amount charged for them, we can say without fear of contradiction, that the allegation does; riot apply to ;us in the slightest degree, for there were only some twelve hands discharged (as our books will prove) from the time the work was commenced until near the completion, and the tools' were taken back at nearly cost price (in many cases original, charge) from, all who preferred selling to taking them, away. Wo admit we were very fortunate in getting a first-class body of men as a whole; but your own experience must convince you that there are many who apply for work on large jobs who are unable to do a day's work, not perhaps from, want of inclination' as much' as 1 practical experience and: physical, strength. The public can therefore judge for themselves as to whether the nnmber discharged from incapacity or otherwise (considering j the distance of road made was over four miles) was at all approaching the usual per centage in cases where men are set to work without the employers having some previous knowledge of their charac? ter and capabilities. ' With reference to the extortioriate prices charged for tools and provisions, we have the best proof that there is no store in the neighborhood from which goods could be obtained riiore reasonably than they were supplied by us, . and , in many places prices are much higher, and we positively assert that our men knew such was the case, and 98 per cent, were well' satisfied with the treatment they received. We may add , that the provisions supplied by us were of the best quality, as ,our invoice prices; will testify, and we herewith enclose a list of prices charged for the principle things in the way pftobls and, provisions, : . We give: this straightforward explanation, at once, aid, will allow the committee to see bur books if required, so as ! to avoid being drawn into a long newspaper corre^pon? dence on the subject. Without ■ professing, therefore, to be nearer perfection than the general average of men, at the same tim c ; . .proving; „ ; that . there was nothing approaching despotism practised

by us. Apologising for thus far intruding. We are, &c, Keith and Co., Contractobs. May 14. P.S. — Our men were paid regularly every fortnight, and all grubbers were,, supplied by us. List of Prices. —Pick aiid handle, 7s 6d ; shovels, 9a ; axe and handle, 93 6d ; beef, 5d to 6d ■'■; sugar, 6 Jd to 7d ; cheese, Is 4d to Is 6d ; butter, ls:3d to Is 6d ; salmon, Is 9d per tin ; lobster, Is 6d ; onions, 4d ; , coffee,. Js9d;..tea,, 3s 6d ; bread,.ls3d: ' potatoes, 12s- per cwt ; flour^ 26s ;' currants, 9d ; Sultana raisins, Is ; tobacco, 6s.