THE SLUDGE-CHANNEL AND ITS MANAGEMENT.

Kumara Times, Issue 2483, 4 June 1884, Page 2

THE SLUDGE-CHANNEL AND ITS MANAGEMENT.

[to the editor,] Sir As this is the all-absorbing question at present, a few facts might bring the autocrat manager to see the error of his ways. There are at present eight parties on strike against the new regulations, which are the most infamous that have ever been attempted to be enforced since Hoos tried to enslave the miners of 'Westland. But they were his downfall j and, Czar-like the present code might prove the manager s or rather mis-manager’s removal to something more suitable. Let us see what the loss to the revenue the present strike has cost: say eight parties, of six men each, idle for the last two weeks, six heads of water or five days in the week at £1 10s per day, with 10s per mao for the use of the channel, which in all amounts to £l6B direct loss to the revenue of the country. Then add loss of the wages of the miners, which amounts to £lßßj this with eight more whose permits are out at the end of this week, while the water is running to waste. But he does not care so long as the military chest is supplied. To reckon the direct loss that this man has caused in the district I don t think I would be far out to say in rough reckoning £IO,OOO, and this would not be going too far. It is to be hoped that our member will be particur in pointing out to the Government the monetary loss the colony is undergoing, as in the present needy state of the exchequer every shilling counts; also the total cost of the stone blocking and the cost of the farce that we had enacted here in the name of an inquiry by Gordon on Gordon and Gow’s folly, alias stone blocks. There is not a new move that this man makes but is calculated to injure those that are unfortunate enough to be in connection with the channel j he will not give the least chance to the miners to even make wages out of their claims—claims that’ would pay £lO a week. But if the miners are true to themselves, and though they.may suffer, they will be victorious over their present tyranical boss. It is for the business people to take heed to what is going on at present, not to trust any of their customers that will sign the new regulations j for the bar in the race means a bar to payment. Better be at a loss than to undertake to keep a class of pensioners that cannot, if they are willing, pay their way. But he who signs don’t want to pay. Next week will see about one hundred men who are willing to work, but cannot. There is some talk of them going in a body to interview the king of Kumara. It is to be hoped the interview will have the desired effect.—Yours, Pair Play. Dillman’s, June 3, 1884.