THE PRICE OF LABOR.

Kumara Times, Issue 1134, 24 May 1880, Page 3

THE PRICE OF LABOR.

[tO THE EDITOR.] Sir—As it is commonly reported that the men at work on the Government sladge-channel are receiving only 9s per day, you would oblige if, through your valuable journal, you could inform me if such report is correct. Should such prove to be the case, I think the working men of this district should adopt some legitimate means to bring such persons to a sense of the injury they are likely to indict on wages-men in general on the Co;\st, if they continue to work for the above rate of wages. Although not legally they will be morally guilty of robbing to a great extent their fellow wages-men here in general. In my opinion the man who, without necessity, lowers the rate of wages, when it is already low enough, inflicts a greater injury on his class and on the community than a highwayman would he likely to do, as, in the absence of some system of mutual protection, the honest wages-man who pays his way has no fence against men. I fed confident that even though the contractor threatened to sack these men if they did not accept 9s per day, no man would jump their job if they chose to make a stand against it. • ~ Having now thrown up the ball, 1

will leave it to the working men and the public to play what game they please with it.—Yours) Shamus. Dillman's, 22nd May> 1880. [Although giving our correspondent's letter publicity, at the same time we fail to understand on what grounds he questions the rate of remuneration offered by any contractor aud accepted by his workmen. The assertion that men are not obtainable at 9s per diem isj we believe, a moat erroneous one, or otherwise the district boasts of a prosperity unequalled in the colony.—Ed. K. T.]