THE PREMIER AND THE WAGES QUESTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2665, 4 August 1887, Page 3

THE PREMIER AND THE WAGES QUESTION.

"To tue.Editor.of'the.NewZka .\'.:'!-V: - ; -'iakd Times. ' ■

: Sir,—As Sir Robert Stout has, uti- . fuirly,,tißl■•thirik,.endeavored-tp fasten ~ upon you qi advocation'*■ reduction of. .work men's .wages'■.-in New Zealaud,' I" think it only right,., in. .the intttrcsts of tvuth and justice, to show to_ the public, wiiutr the Stout-Vogel ' aG oyernm en t. hii ve th abtein jtted An this direction. The subjoined circular is evidence of a.- character which Bpeaks for itself. It needs no embellishment or •'explanation from me or you:— . Public Works Department. Engineer-in-Chief's, Office, -g Wellington, July 23rd, 1986. TjPngineei's in charge of Districts. RATE OF WAGES, The Minister directs that from the Ist AugUßt the rate of wages for unskilled labor is not to exceed 6s v per day of eight hours, and the rates for skilled labor are to be.reduced proportionately. This applies to survey hands as well, excepting the head • chainman, who may. be. paid 8s a day. ''" Jii out-of-the-way places ifc may bo necessary to make special arrangements as to tate of wages but approval should'- ;■ be obtained Ironi the office. •'■ '■-'•■'■- ..'.-■ Of course the special rates paid' For '■•;;• the unemployed (is a day) are- not to '■•'. Ivi altered by this circular. 1|?: J. Blackett, - \j'\ ■ ...' For iliuisfer of Public Works... Jii defeueo or extenuation, ,it was ,: urgcil:in Parliament that the .circular L.-wasissMdin; error, or under misap-; : : ■ preh'ensionVbut those of us who, know Mr'Blackett,. who understand, what ani " " extremely carefu] men ho is, know well: ■■• to give to the-atatement • UiayEeai'tcdin error or made any •. ■;] mistake;-■ ;i Unior any circumstances-it 1 v JBwci:thy;;ofnoj;e that the circular-was. '■ ; -' ; M!y' after Attention had : ;i , /fieeii called to,, tjjo subject: -in PurluV .-.and.' after ,C \two supjiolto of the 'Gpyernruent--'Mr • .QuinnpfiS.'and'-Mf'Suddon—had given' ~ .ex|)reflaioh''4o'4heir'fieutimentsiii no ■"• .'to .the subject'at his Reeling thin evening ifl'-'y'fery.plausible 'terms, but as Lintend be'fpi'e very Ion? : to deal with the Italian,''form, ot illusion or delusion adopted by members of this Government in their treatmeut ..of this, us in their treatment of all pother subjects, I need not trouble'you with any further remarks.-I am, etc. Geo. FißUer, Aunist 2