THE STRIKE IN MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3626, 29 September 1890, Page 2

THE STRIKE IN MASTERTON.

The strike is oxtending to Masterton and a firm of painters who have a ilar»e contract in hand-taken at a low price, and to bo completed at a givon time—are the latest sufferers. In keeping with the low prico at which tho work had been taken, thoy had to employ jobbing hands at a reduced wage. They wanted men who could travel smartly over a surface withoiitstudying detail too much, and they succeeded in getting one willing hand, on their own tcrins, who started to work with a will, After three lialfiday's work, and a draw tor half a week, tho worthy jobbing hand was waited upon by the executive of the Knights of Labour who demanded '< What wages are you getting on this job, Tom Pepper?" Having given the required answer, Thomas was informed of the rate of wages ho was entitled to receive, Forthwith he adjourned to the nearest pub, kept by a woll-known sport, and said to the gonial landlord," I say boss, can I bavo a private parlor, I want to hold a mootingf "Decidedly," was the prompt reply. Pepper called for pen, ink, and paper (he can write.when somebody else holds the pen) a pint of beer for himsolf, and invited a friend, who is a bit of a legal scribe, into the room with him,, closed tho door, and commenced bußinesß. rHo constituted himself a meeting of the Maritime Council, took tho chair, and appointed his friend Secretary. Then he drew up an. elaborate report, notifying his employers ''That at a meeting of the Maritimo Council held in Masterton that day, it was resolved that as they were paying one of their hands a lower rate of wage than that recognised by the Council, he, tho said underpaid jobbing hand, should forthwith ceaso work, and is' called out,' aowrdingly." The report was duly forwarded, and whilst the contractors aro in despair at their work being stopped, that '.' underpaid" is quietly sitting in that "private parlor, melting that half-week's pay, When that is gone, he bopos to make a successful raid on the Knights of Labor for strike pay.— Observer,