Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1884. THE NEW CAT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 74, 26 February 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1884. THE NEW CAT.

Thkre is one point on which the Ohiistchurch Telegraph thinks the new Bankisuptisyi some; amendment, and that is m regard to thp prp^ teotion of employes foi* the payment of their wages by insolvent employers. All similac Acts, for obvious reasons, make provisions to secure a certain amount of preference being given to such claims. But' the aiew Act noh* tains ft clause which, while professing

td ill? the ntimti '.iiiiift is Gti wohli4 tlirtt wtuit it \* fviJetitJy intended td nchU'v*? <*aii be dompliftdy frtiaU'ated'i %n Unit, to till intents and iiut'pose^ ithiifct 4 the no* Act employes have no preference ever ordinary creditois; The clause bearing on this pomt — No. 137 — is important, and we give ah. extract from it. It gives priority to the' following over all debts except claims for rent : * h All \Vages or salary of any clerk or sefvant m the employment, of the \bankrupt at the dnto of tTio ordei* of adjudication, and not exceeding three months' wages or salary;, and not-ex-ceeding £100. 2, All, wages of , any artisan, labourer, or workman, whe'theV skilled or unskilled, m the employment of the bankrupt, at the date of the order of adjudication, and not exceeding thrcß mpntlfs! Jwages"; at current rates, ;3. All wages Jof any artisan! labourer, or workman* ', whether skilled or unskilled, m the employment , of the bankrupt akpiecewhr'c at ' tl i e dfattS Tot the order of adjudication, and; <hot exceeding the amount earned at such piecework m the three months preced-f ing such order.' It will be " setfn" at once that while the clause refor^d*? to is intended to provide .that "the wages pf employes should bd paid' before all other debt 3 except j-ent^. it n-ea-Uy daes" ; nbt secure that at f all, A ease that ocourred the other day m the Rangitikei district will clearly illustrate this fact. A contractor under the '"County Council got into difficulties, , ancl^ • i leya.n > tajlj without paying; his workmen. " *Theyi were advised to get ,him ; !declared.<vft' bankrupt so that they might put m a; preferential claim on:hi3 assets, 1 Before; taking; this 'wfcep, however, it ,was dis-l covered- thai;* owitig -to ' tlre'' v fa«jb that! they were not then m .his emiiloy.ment; — having been engaged by the day — and therefore they,, could "not .Ueiso at| the date of his "being adjudicated a ! bankrjupt, as required by the Act,uthe clause could not be made to apply to; tjjeir : oa?e. ; It. is clear : that thih ia 'not at. all a: peculiar osine. Similar dne's have^happened over and over again iu ■ this cdulitry, and similar ones . may, occur at any time iri; the future, •'. And; if pur reading of tlie Act is . correct | it inflicts a great injustice on a class of persons it ia the special duty of the law to protect. ..... „_ r . ., . „ r r: x ■ ■• - : -^ :