GENTLEMEN and MEN of HONOR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 165, 21 May 1879, Page 2

GENTLEMEN and MEN of HONOR.

To the Editor of the Waiiuiuta Daily. Sir—l noticed a letter in your last Saturday's issue, signed " E. V. Dixon," wherein he talks of gentlemen and men of honor. Sir, can a man bo a judge without he pocsesses those qualities himself! A gentleman, I think, should pay his debts, and a man of honor should not tell a falsehood. E. V. Dixon will not pay me what ho owes mo, though he has said several times " You shall have it to-mor-row." But to-morrow has not come yet, and over one month is gono by. Sir, when a contractor does not pay for labor done on his contract he is not much of a gentleman, nor does he possess much ol honor; but I will yet try to make him pay,—l am, &c,, Fred. Osterling. [The letter our correspondent refers to was inserted as an advertisement. We refused admission to it in our open column,—Ed. W.D, CONTRACTS AND .CONTRACTORS. 'l'o the Editor of the Wairarafa Daily. Sir,—Allow nic through tho columns of your paper, to bring boforc the public a few facts, which if properly lookod into by members of Road Boards, and those in connection with Public Works, could very easily be satisfied and would put a stop to many dishonest business transactions, which are daily practised on the poor laborer and the honest tradesman.

lii tlio first place I call attention to the maimer in which contracts are let to persons who are not in the possession of a single shilling, but are allowed to take contracts to very large amounts by simply finding security for the completion of the work. This being granted the contractor advertises for men, and the work is commenced, and knowing ho has no money he is compelled to take workmen, although they are utterly useless until a certain portion of work is done, so that lie may receive the usual allowance of a draw, (viz. 75 per cent,) on the same. When such he receives he is so completely surrounded by creditors to whom ho was in debt before receiving the contract, that every shilling is gone to them, and the poor laborer has to go minus or work on until more work is done, and wait until another draw is made, or otherwise, leave without a single copper of his hard-earned wages. This style of .carrying on contracts has been practised in this district. I should now like to show how the honest tradesman likewise becomes a victim. In places where it is inconvenient for workmen to obtain provisions; the contractor keeps a boarding-house, and charges his poor man very exhorbitant prices, ho likewise receives on credit goods, timber, and other necessaries for carrying on the work. Then the contractor, finding that he is unable to complete the contract, owing to the men refusing to work until they receive their hard-earned money, he is ultimately compelled to hand over to his securities the contract for its completion, which they do cheerfully, being in a position to carry out the same, as they take whatever plant is oil the ground, they receive likewise the 25 per cent, retained on work done, Should the contractor have been in debt to his securities, lie has then every chance of being paid handsomely, and the butcher, baker, and timber merchant must go minus ? Could there not be a clause in the specification holding the security liable for all debts contracted on the same, The writer of this is only a working man, but of strictly honest principles, and hopes that persons who let contracts will see as to securing the working man for his wages, also the tradesman for his goods,— lam, &c., L ADOBE 11,