THE GO-SLOW POLICY.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 1 March 1917, Page 3

THE GO-SLOW POLICY.

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —There has been a great outcry and condemnation of the men for adopting this method of regulating the output of coal. While not having any sympathy for these mean striking tricks, I would like to ask who taught the men to play this low-down game for purposes of their own ? Was it not the Government policy to make men go slow on the co-operative works ? And if they made more than a email wage they were either discharged or the price was cut down so much on the next job that work as they may the men could only make bare tucker or very little more. Married men were often compelled to go into the country, and work on the roads, and were arranged in' gangs of about four, and in many cases a good crowd would get together and work hard, late and early, in order to get a few pounds to send to the wife, or may be to buy her a cow to help keep the family; but no, these good, honest, industrious workmen were fooled and humbugged,' and treated as though they had done some serious crime. The overseers openly stated that they dare not send in pay-sheets in that form or they themselves would get the " bullet " for allowing tke party to make such high wages. Another party, perhaps of j less capable men, or men who adopted the "go-slow policy," would earn only half as much as the industrious gang, and be kept on.

Another crying evil under the co-op, system was the employment of German overseers, or an any rate, any foreigner was deemed better than a Britisher to carry on the work of overseers, and the Britisher was permitted to shift sticky wet clay at 8d per yard, and the overseer riding round on horseback bossing him. At least, this is what obtained in some parts. It was this unfair treatment that prevented many men leaving the towns, and seeking work on the roads being newly formed in the back country. The cost of living is always higher away back than in the towns, and men had to work long hours and keep at it in order to make a little surplus out of the job. The go-slow policy is only a reflex of the co-operative system as carried on some years ago, and may be as is carried on now. —I am, etc., Fair Play.