The Real Friend of the Workingman.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3364, 19 November 1889, Page 2

The Real Friend of the Workingman.

Flow the Clitistchurch Press. , Tho leader of the Imposition tins ] evidently resolved to use any aud wiy means in this power to gain , popularity for himself and his party I in the country, and he is apparently J not at all particular about tho means !, lie employs br gaining his ends, Mr j Ballance now attempts to pose before t the public as the real friend of the working num. "The present ratoof . " wugua," he says, " was only Gs 6d , "per day, wages which might betoo J , " high for a Chinaman probably, or 3 "' hatters' out of employment; but " he did not think they were too high I " for a man who had himself and his | "wife and family to keep, lie ' "thought they could do with an "increase miliar than a reduction," , But Mr Ballnnco was not always of this opinion. There was a time when the Government of which he was a member thought that Us per day was quite enough for a working man, These friends of tho woiking classes not only thought this.fety actually took steps lop effect to their convictions, They caused a circular to be issued by' the Public Works Department instructing that tho then rate of wages should bo reduced, Here is the circular itself, issued in IESG :-" The Minister " directs that from thu Istol August " the ratoof wages for unskilled labor "is not to exceed Gs per day for "eight hours, and the rates for skilled " labor are to be reduced proportion- " ately, This applies to survey hands "as well, excepting the headehain- " map, w'Jie may be" jiiiid tjs per' flay, " In out-of-the-way places it may bo "necessary to make special arrange-' " meutsas to the ratoof wages, but ap- " proval should be obtained from the "ollice. Of course the special rates •'paid for tho unemployed (fs a day) '•are not to lie altered by this cimilar,"' Theabove document was issued during the administration of the ri'.oiit-Vogcl Government, of Which Mr Iklatice was a prominent member. 'lt'will "po seen ihat the circular had been carefully considered, It was issued by the direction of tht Minister at tho head of tho Dojurtuicut. We ca

sped A attention to the worilius of tin circular, " The rate of wages for «" "skilled labor a not to meal (is |ii!i " day of eight bonis." What do tlii'm words imply ? Do (hoy not indicati that if the officials could sec their w«j to make oven larger reduction thai the circular directed their actior would meet with approval'? Was nol this an attempt to force down tin standard of wsges (joncviilly throughout the country!