CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, 22 November 1892, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

We are not responsible for the statement! or opinions of correspondents. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUNAWATC HERALD. Sir, — Your extract from the Wanganui Herald in Saturday's issue headed " A Warning to Employers," is indeed a warning to employers, and likewise to employees and to all who have faith in our self-styled Liberal Government. A.s stated the Truck Act of 1891 provides that wages must be paid to the person who earns them in cash, not otherwise. Sir, is this not . obviously a law made with the intention of favouring one class of people ; is it not a gross injustice to the other and a serious detriment to both. A man comes along to a flaxmill for in : stance, hard up and wants a job. To begin with he wants we will say a flax hook, probably they are kept in stock for the convenience of those who may want them. The hard-up man wants to be supplied with a hook, the boss wants to supply him with one, but our Liberal Government says no, and the hard-up man must continue on the wallaby, because when our Liberal Government has taught the labouring man that there is a law in force by which ha is enabled to escape paying his just debts and to look on all employers as rogues and swindlers, is it likely that the employer is going to trust to the honesty of men to come back after getting their cheques cashed and pay their debts. Where is the sense in a law that prohibits an employer from taking an order and ob iging his man or boy by fetching him a shirt, a pair of boots, or a lb of tobacco from town unless the said man or boy hands over the cash for the goods, although he might have thrice the amount coming to him. This law may have been intended to protect the labouring man against unfair charges made by some employers for goods supplied, but I maintain that the employees always had their remedy in a court of law and always knew where to find their man. But with the employer it is different, and even if he did know where to find him he probably would not be worth powder and shot. By inserting the above you will oblige. — lam,&c, An Employer.