AN IRATE EMPLOYER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 6 April 1909, Page 3

AN IRATE EMPLOYER.

Considerable amusement was caused in the Commonwealth Arbitration Court last week during the hearing of the woodworkers’ case by the reading of a letter from a Tasmanian employer. “ Sir, — My first impulse on the receipt of the ridiculous and impudent notice forwarded by your clique of wastrel agitators was to throw it behind the fire ; but after a little amused reflection! decided to so far honour you as to make the following reply:—l employ on an average about 37 hands; some good and some indifferent workers. I pay each man what I think he is worth. When any of them are dissatisfied with me they tell me so, and look for employment elsewhere. Whenever I am dissatisfied with any of them I tell them so, and they must either show an improvement, or find another job. I have found this plan work very well, and I am so well pleased with the opinion I have of my ability to manage my own business that I absolutely refuse to be dictated to by a set of howling union wasters from the other States. If your representative shows his face on my premises I can promise him all the agitation he wants. Hitherto I have been perfectly indifferent as to whether my men belonged to a union or not ; but after your preposterous demand for preference, I think it is time to show the preference you write about. For the future I shall make it my business to enquire when men apply to me for employment, and will give the preference in every case to free labourers. Shabby unionists can go to the devil, and have all the picnics they want. If you are particularly anxious to know my scale of wages, just keep on thinking long enough and hard enough and perhaps the information will be vouchsafed to you. Benji. D. Fenton, Florestria, Tasmania.”