Accommodation in Shearing Sheds.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 8 December 1891, Page 2

Accommodation in Shearing Sheds.

(Communicated.) Acting on the advice of Mr Buick, M.H.R., the Government have ordered tho police at country stations to sneak about the premises of the sheep-farmers and ascertain what accommodation is provided for the men employed at these places. This order while quite in keeping with the spirit of esjrionage and petty tyranny which dominates the actions of the «•* Scallawag Government," in all thoir relations with people better than themselves, is very distasteful to fche police who are not over zealous in the performance of so contemptible a duty. The following letter picked up in the street explains itself. Oifice of the Right-Colour, Union No 1, Sandhills Station, December, sth, 1891. Sergt. Catchem. Sir,— The members of theR.C.U., Number one, being " hands " on the Sandhills sheep station having been informed that you have been instructed by the Government to inspect the dwellings of the poor employes of the social pests in this neighbourhood, and not having so far received a visit from you, think it right to make a report of the manner in which they are provided for on this station. First, as to lodging— The quarters are fairly comfortable, the rooms being papered and carpeted, and provided with easy chairs, the beds fitted with spring mattresses and mosquito curtains. The " tucker " is not bad, - ham, eggs, chops and steak regular for breakfast : soup, fish, joints, pastry, vegetables and beer for dinner, while for tea, the practise is to order any dish that one may fancy. As to recreation of course |no work is done on Wednesday afternoon, Saturday ditto, Sunday, Election days, Public and Bank Holidays, Race days and Saints days. On the few occasions that the members of the Union do anything on the station, the Eight Hours System is rigidly adhered to. There is a smoking-room with freebar attached. Greyhounds are supplied to those members who care for coursing, and there is a tennis-court little used, as tennis is fatiguing work and the managers family are too uppish to play with us. Every " hand " is supplied gratis with a new concertina. Upon the whole the union has perhaps no serious grievance, still I am instructed to i make one or two suggestions to the Leaders ofthe Great Liberal Party.

For instance, there is room for improvement in some of the liquors ' suppled, Bass should be substituted for Dunedin beer. New Mosquito K curtains should be issued free- of charge to replace those burnt by smokers (accidents of this kind are very common and the cost of curtains falls heavily on some' members.) « Then the managers wife and daughters should give the " hands " a hop every Saturday nighfc. And the "• Boss " himself should be ordered to supply every unionist with a ticket in Tattersall's sweep on fche Melbourne Cup I We have heard } incidentally that tha proprietor growls about the station not returning him even bank interest on his capital ! But we have nothing fco do with that aspect of the question, for haa not the G.L.P., made a law that it is the first duty of fche Local Pests to make things comfortable for us " True Liberals of the right Colour," to whom this country properly belongs ? You will be good enough to bring these views under the notice of the Premier and Mr J'mick, and yon may give the former a hint that unless he receives any suggestions which we may make at any time, in the proper Liberal spirit, he may find that this Union will require a little extra squarhigat the next General Klection. '; am, sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) J Ruddle, Sec. R.C.U., No. 1. and Junior Jackaroo, Sand-hills Station.