REDUCTION OF WAGES.

Kumara Times, Issue 1146, 1 June 1880, Page 2

REDUCTION OF WAGES.

DEPUTATION TO THE CONTRACTOR. • ♦ A deputation, consisting of Messrs Brewer and M‘Kenzie, and accompanied by R. J. Seddon, Esq., M.H.R., waited on Mr Maher, the contractor for the Knmara sludge-channel, last evening, in accordance with a resolution passed at the late public meeting held at Dillmau’s Town relative to the reduction of wages. The deputation were introduced by Mr Brewer, who, in so doing, apologised for the absence of Mr Fergus Barrowman (who was also appointed a member of the deputation, but was precluded from attending through sickness in his family). Mr Brewer’ stated that the deputation had waited on Mr Maher for the purpose, if possible, of coming to some amicable arrangement relative to the question of wages, and which he (the contractor) had thought proper to reduce by employing men on bis contract' at Is per day less than what was acknowledged and recognised as the current rate throughout the district- A public meeting bad been held, at which he (Mr Brewei-) was chairman, and at that meeting resolutions had been passed, which resolutions would be carried into effect if the deputation could not come to some satisfactory agreement With Mi- Maher • but be trusted that 'itlie whole question would be discussed in a fair spirit, with a beneficial result.' Mr Seddou, M.H.R,, said hie’ Was placed in a peeuliar position, as he had attended the late public meeting at Dilloian’s Town but of curiosity, and had intended taking no part' therein 3 but a question was put to him relative to Mr Maher’s contract which necessitated him speaking. He suggested at that meeting that a deputation should wait on Mr Maher- before taking any extreme measures, and talk the tnattef over quietly, as he believed this would lead to a better understanding bn both sides. His advice had been taken,- and the deputation then present were there for that purpose. The reduction of wages was a matter that affected the whole of the Coast. Men at the pr'e*sent time were required at Okarito, 12s a day being offered as wages; but on the other hand, it might be argued that it was out-door work and that with inclement weather and the pricp of provisions there, this was not equal to 10s per day here. It was a recognised fact on the Coast that 10a a day was a fair days wage for a fair day’s work, and all contractors based their estimate of labor on this ground. If a large number number of contracts for which tenders were called for as at present in the district were calculated on the current rate of wages and the Government learned that the rate of wages had been reduced, the natural consequence would be that none of the tenders would be accepted, on the grounds that the amount of the tenders were excessive in the face pf the price of labor. He thought that Mr Maher had granted one concession in meeting the deputation, as he thereby admitted that at least there was seme ground for argument in the question of the reduction of wages. He was Well aware Mr Maher was losing considerably by the contrast, and this was one reason, probably, why those in his employ, knowing this to be the case, had accepted the reduction without complaint. Mr R. M'Kenzie, as one of the deputation, had but little to say after what Mr Seddon had stated. The meeting had unanimously agreed that 10s a day was to be the current rate of wages for a fair day’s work, and he, as one of the delegates appointed at the meeting, had waited on Mr Maher to understand from him if he intended to lower the rate of wages in the district,

'or act in conformity with the wishes of 'the working classes at large. Of course if Mr Maher did not agree with the views expressed at the meeting, it 'would bft the duty of the deputation to notify his Opinions thereon to the association, who would take further steps in the matter, but he (the speaker) trusted they would have a far more gratifying task to perforrm Mr MaAer, in reply to the deputation, said that a large number of men had applied to him for work, and as he Considered he cOuld find employment for 30 or 40 more men, he told them he intended lowering the rate of wages he was then paying. In so doing he had no intention of making any reduction in the wages of the men ernjployed in the wet ground. However, when he came to consider the question, he thought it would not do to have two feets of men on at different rates of wages, as it Was his ambition to have his men work unitedly and amicably togethei’. H 6 then notified his intention of making a leducfcion and there were only three men that objected to the reduced rate. He considered his men were better off even now at 9s per day than those he had engaged when contracting at the Roller at 12s. If all his work had been of the same nature as it was two months ago then 12s a day would not be too much to give the men, but now that it was dry everyone wanted to come on. He hardly thought it was light that a public meeting should he called to interfere between an employer and his employees. He had received letters from Grey mouth and Ross since the ineeting had taken place, with offers from parties of men to come on at the reduced rate. He wanted to see no strike in the district, and would like the question at issue settled j and, to meet the wished of the deputation in this respect, he would at once plainly tell them he intended in future giving 10s per day or £2 14s to the men per week in his employment, Hot, however, to deceive the deputation and so that they might in no way be misled, he would say that those employed on daily wages would be the first to be discharged in the event of his having to reduce the number of men at present engaged 6ft the contract. There was One little matter he would like to make the deputation cognisant of relative to the men in his employment, which was that he (Mr Maher) found all the tools required without any deductions being made from the wages of the men for their use, and also that in every eight hours shift the men were allowed half an-hour as a “ billy ” hour. He would gladly give piede-work, and if that met with the views of the association, he would call tenders through the medium of the Kumara Times for the upper sOctioti, Under those conditions immediately. The deputation, in thanking Mr ■Maher, said they had nothing to do with the question of the time the men worked j that laid with the contractor. They, as a deputation, simply wanted a guarantee that the current rate of Wages should be 10s for a day of eight hours. This Mr Maher had promised ; of course with the weekly wages the deputation in no way interfered. They considered Mr Mahet had met them courteously and in a fair spirit, and that the association would be thoroughly satisfied with the result. Tlie deputation then withdrew.

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