MORE MUDDLE.

NZ Truth, Issue 130, 14 December 1907, Page 4

MORE MUDDLE.

Muddle— the Main Trunk Muddle— it has, as far as the worker is concerned, been muddle ever since work commenced. "Truth" is always, receiving complaints and the more serious of them have had the garish light of day thrown on them, with benefit to the worker, too ! Now, we are hearing of the workers being robbed of their dues, and dirty paints have been raised by Government engineers to justify the rooking, . for that is all it can be described as. Working under the co-operative system,, we find that a man named Leahy wa,s guaranteed nine . shillings &. day some time before March of this year. He was working at Ohakune on that line, and, owing to the illness of a sister m Australia, he had to cross the Tasman. and, on being paid up, was 21s short. He had not time to argue, but has arerued a lot since his return, but without avail. The decisive answer came the other day that during the period he worked the rate of pay was reduced to 8s per day. which was considered m keeping with the nature of the work performed. Truly wonderful indeed are the ways of Government bosses. Here is a man notified months after he has left his lob that his wage was reduced. Not a word was said of this reduction while the man, was at his nost cutting. Mean, it is contemptible ! The Government should be a good master and set a good example. It has been rnrnMle right from the beginning, and is likely to end m muddle, whi^h, 1 by the way, reminds "Truth" that the ever accurate and up-tc-date nenriv "Post" mentioned one day last week that the muddle would be coronl^t^d by the end of the wpek. Tf it is ready hv next June "Truth" will surprised." It has been an expensive undertaking, and from the very inception the worker has been roofed right and left. Somebody has scored handsomely and will, no douht, w*>en the affair is ready, retire on a competence. Some peonle wonder why Labor is ever dissatisfied.