Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1889. LABOR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume VII, Issue 246, 12 March 1889, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1889. LABOR.

■». In the early part of December we drew attention to the possible evil that our hemp millers would have to con end agai ist, in being unable to secure suitable hands. We then pointed out that owing to the positions it was necessary to place mills, the difficulty of finding accomodation, except that provided at the mill, would be great, and also, owing, to what might be termed, the risk of the business, would induce millers to run up any shelter at the start. The character of the class of men who were seeking work, came also under review, with the remark that the master's supervision was essentia ly necessary to secure the well being of the laborer. The pointedness of our leader has been amply verified during the past two months. The difficulty of retaining the hands emp oyed has been under discussion by the millers as a whole, and it has arisen, not so much on account of the rate of wages paid, as from the natural restlessness of those following this employment. It has been granted that eight or nine hours work in the field, is long enough for any man, but p aced as they are, attached to a mil: situated miles away from any neighbour, hardly fulfils the providing of a fair amount of recreation, which is of a greater power as rest, than the j ability to pass all the hours in sleep. To meet this we wrote, " we believe that the population is so large, and the interests so great, as to justify the mill owners to devise some means of improving the position of the hands employed in the mills outside of Fozton. To our mind the expense need not be great, and it should have as an object the obtaining of reading matter, and simple inexpensive games which could circulate amongst the difierent mills." By a reference to another column it will be noticed that Mr Gardner and Mr Bussell are both starting a scheme similar to that which we suggested. But, however much they are to be congratulated on making this move, they would be acting more to their own interest and to that of the whole of the industry if instead of working piece meal , they widened the area. The means of communication between the mills is now so good, that a depot at Foxton is al that is needed. It can easily be calculated how quickly the hands at one mill will be able to devour the literary matter provided by their funds, and when it is consumed, is it wise to allow it to lie waste upon their she yes? If the employers hod such enlarged views as to see the advantages it will confer on them, by securing the comfort of those working under them, surely they must see that the larger they

increase their subscribers the muoh larger variety of matter they obtain in exchange. W% therefore Joqk most hopefully forward to be jitMb 1 to chronicle in&t one more step has been made in the right direction, and a hemp millers circulatiug library has been duly set at work.