SUNDAY LABOR ON PUBLIC WORKS

West Coast Times, Issue 308, 18 September 1866, Page 3

SUNDAY LABOR ON PUBLIC WORKS

THE EDITOR OF THE WEST COAST TIMES.

Sie — A party of us, late workers as "a road party under the superintendence of Mr Edwin 4 Blake, on the Christchurch line of road, have come to Hokitika under the following circumstances : — Our hours were from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. daily, six days per week, wages (finding ourselves) being 12s per day. On wet days we were of course knocked off .work, and the pay stopped. Now, sir, we worked well and cheerfully, and did not grumble at this state of things. But one ■thing we did mos,t firmly resist, and that was, the sabbath being made a day of labor. Some of us were married men, and wished to write to our wives and families, the others, although single, had also their friends and relatious to communicate with, and all had many little duties to perform for which there was no time after a hard day's work. The fact, however, is, that every time we had to shift our camp, which occurred every other week or so, Sunday was the day chosen — the day ordained rest for man ' and beast was made a day of bustle, labor, and confusion. We objected to this strongly, and on refusing to labor on that day, and j shift our camps as ordered, to some new sta- ' tion, were called in, and each man received his cheque and notice of leave. Although closely watched and kept to work, we never complained on week days, but we thought it the duty of each man to claim an Englishman's pride and boast, freedom of conscience and action on the Lord's day. Even in a worldly point of view—^is regards the physiology of the case — I would respectfully ask you, Sir, should man and beast pot have one day in seven ? We have and mean no personal ill will in this appeal to your judgment, against Mr Blake, "but we all think that our employers on a Government work should rather have tried to keep than break the law. Your kind notice of this will oblige a useful body of men, who will always work cheerfully and faithfully, according to what is right ; but who would claim your advice and sympathy, when treated thus, in respectfully resisting what their consciences told them,' was religiously, morally and physically bad. Hoping you will excuse the length of this appeal to your judgment in your valuable columns, on behalf of ten of my fellow sufferers, I am, &c, Donaxb Koss. Hokitika, Sept. 15, 1866.