Page 2 Advertisements Column 3

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 308, 24 December 1908, Page 2

TARANAKI DAILY NEWS. TO AGENTS AND SUBSCRIBERS. JUIERE will be NO ISSUE of the TARANAKI DAILY NEWS 011 FRIDAY (Christmas Da SATURDAY (Boxing Day).

SWEATING CLKRKX With the assistance of the United Clerks' Union tin* Labour Couaeil in Sydney is collecting information con-' earning the wage; ajul conditions of oilkc workers iu 1 lii» .New South Wales capital, and it is predicted t)iat when the results of its investigations are niad<' public tliev will create a great -r sensation than did tile revelations in connection with the .sweating of shop assistants sonic time ago. H is asserted by tile ollicers of the Council that many young men. ranging up to twentylive years of age, are receiving no more than IDs a week. Others are known to be lilling highly responsible positions for Ms or .C2 a week. Jt frequently happens that these men have to work several hours' overtime a week, and for this overtime they receive only "tea money," the cost of the meal they snatch at a neighbouring restaurant. A man aged twenty-live employed in an agency, whose oHice hours are from B.JM a.m. to r p.m.. is being paid 7s (id a week. Another case is mentioned' where j.he employer advertised for a elerk who could "think" for him. A large number of applications were received for the position, and linally it Mas given to a man who was willing to work for 12s lid a week. A man who worked for months at 20s a week with promise of a rise if he proved suitable was given 21s a week wlu-n he reminded his employer of the tefint of his engagement. A clerk in a hrewei'V, who had been working till ] 1 ..'SO for several night*, asked to he allowed to get away in time io caMi a tram at U, and was' told Unit he took "no interest in his work." A timn aged thirty-two. after fifteen years service, is now in receipt of 30s a week, and speaks with gratllndo of a ten day.v holiday he was given some two years ago ''on full pay/' A senior girl in an office employing five female eicrks is paid 12s Gd a week. Clerks employed by carcase | hutr-hers are paid from 'IDs to 40s a week, and are 7101 permitted to leave the premises wen at meal-times between K a.m. and T p.m. Kmployees in solicitors' offices are ronimonh* paid 2os to AOs a week. and are expected to earn something more nt nights io keep up appearances. Cases like ought to be sufficient to induce fho clerks to do ( something for Mietriselv's, hut it is I sa'd that of t he 11.000 or 12.000 em- j ployed in oHkes within ihe metvnpnKian area not more- than -100 or 500 are or-1 ganised.