TO THE EDITOR OF THE MANAWATU HERALD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 78, 30 May 1879, Page 2

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MANAWATU HERALD.

Sin,— ln reporting the decision that the saw-millers arrived at last Saturday, of reducing their haad*' wages by at least 20 per cent, the Press Agency correspondent at Feildinsr adds this wonderful piece of information, viz :— " This result is supposed to be caused by the recent alteration of the tariff taking two shillings off imported limber." :

I regret to have to differ with such an authority, and I do so on these grounds :— That as far as I am aware, the present rate of wages (about to be reduced 20 per cent) is the same as paid by the miltera a year ago, within which period they have twice increased the price of the timber.and taking both increiiaes, raised it considerably over 20 par cent ; and if this is so, and I have little doubt of it, the millers having then never increased the wages, they conld now as easily decrease the timber/ without decreasing the wages

The next point is to inquire the cost of producbion. Nearly all timber will be logged and put on the skids at Is 6d per hundred feet, and sawn at 2s 3d to 2.s 6d per hundred feet ; allowing the sawmiller a tithe of Is the whole cost will only amount to 5s per hundred feet; yet the selling prices have been— For Totara, 16s and 1 3s ; Alatai, 14s and 11s ; Red Pine, 10a and 11s ; White Pine, 8s and 9s ; thus yielding immense profits after making every liberal reduction for plant, &c.

Also, that from this district, the exports by sea have been very little, nearly the whole amount passing through Wanganui for the West Const consumption, and the competition, which they cry out is ruining their trade, and on which account they demand this reduction in wagds, comes from only another part of New Zealand, in which the 2s tariff has no connection, and which is handicapped by a carriage of 3s per hundred feet, against Is 6d per hundred feet railway carriage, the outside cost .for them.

As will be seen by the above, the millers have gut so accustomed to making such enormous profit*, that they attribute all opposition to the Government having taken off the tariff, but it would be a fairer statement to make, that owiug to the judicious handling of other large emp overs of labor in the neighbourhood of Feilding (as I see it mentiouud that the circular is issued by sawmill proprietors and " others ") the sawmillers have been the oafcspaw for generally lowering the lato current rate of wages. The working man will owe no thanks to the great originator of the Feilding timber meetings

I ara &c,

A Working Mas.

Foxton, May 28.