BRINGING DOWN WAGES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1662, 19 November 1887, Page 3

BRINGING DOWN WAGES.

The correspondent of the Otago 1 Daily Times says Mr Valentine re- ( ceived a strongly-worded letter from , one of his constituents complaining that a youth had been taken on as a : platelayer on the Waimea Plains rail- , way at 4s 6d a day in place of a man, who was dismissed, and had been in receipt of 6s 6d per day. This was regarded as the introduction of the , thin end of the wedge by the Govern- , ment in the direction of lowering the rat® of wages. The reply of the Minister of Public Works to Mr 1 Valentine’s question was calculated to 1 give the gentlemen occupying the 1 Opposition a handle for a dig at the , Government. Mr Turnbull moved ] an adjournment, and denounced the j action of the Government in substi- i tuting boys for men on railways. Mr 1 Turnbull argued that married men l with families should be given the j preference on the railways, as single , men or boys could shift for themselves, j The Premier replied very sharply that ; the Government was not a benevolent i institution, and their object should be 1 to get good value for their money ' paid. The Hon. Mr Fergus spoke j warmly in advocacy of boy labor on the railways, and the Hon. Mr Fisher | got warmer still on the subject. He , alluded in a satirical style to the members of the Opposition who were posing as champions of the working man, and he went on to cite cases in connection with his own election in which men who had posed to be the most “loud-mouthed Protectionists ” had their workshops and factories filled with boys instead of men. M,r Levestam replied to the effect that it was because we bad not Protection that people were compelled to employ 1 boys instead of men. The greater part of the afternoon was spent in the ■.discussion. Government supporters aver that it was so much time wasted, while the Opposition members assert that the time expended was profitably employed.

GERALDINE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. Th* monthly meeting of this Committee was held on Wednesday evening last. Present—Messrs W. S. Maslin (Chairman), S. H. Pearpoint, Or. Taylor. J. Cunningham, J. Riordan, and A. White. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. OOKRESPONDENCB. Correspondence was read from the Board of Education stating that the sum of £ll 13s 5d had been placed to the credit of the Committee with the Bank of New Zealand for incidentals. INSURANCE. With regard to continuing the insurance on the school buildings it was decided not to renew the policy taken out in the South British Insurance Company, master’s REPORT. The Head Master’s report was read showing the average attendance for the month ending 4th November to have been 194.5. He suggested certain alteratipns in the arrangements

for enabling the children to obtain water for drinking purposes. On the proposition of Mr Pearpoinl, seconded by Mr Taylor, it was decided to receive the report. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £4 12s were passed for payment. visitor’s REPORT. Mr White, on behalf of the Visiting Committee, reported having visited the school twice during the month and finding everything working satisfactorily. He suggested that some disinfecting powder should be obtained. It was decided to obtain the same, to he handed to the Head Master. VISITORS. Messrs Pear point and Taylor were appointed visitors for the ensuing month, and the meeting terminated.