CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3821, 28 May 1891, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE WHARF LABOURERS' DISTRESS. [To the Editor N.Z, Tunes.] Sib.—l have asked and have obtained authority to following letter from Mr Booth, chairman 61 the Harbour Board. lb was impossible to resist the conviction that logically all Mr Booth seid on the occasion of the deputation admitted of do answer, I said so much at the Board table, and that man, I think, is to be commended who, standing rigidly to his publio duty, at the saoie time recognises the genuine* nesß of the request for work, and satisfies the promptings of hu own generous nature by an offer of help from his private resources. That is M Booth's position, I know it iB work* the men want, nob charity; but where there are oases of distress, and I bslieve there are many among the wharf men and their families, 1 hope - they will not look npon Mr Booth's offer as in any sense hurtful to their self-respect. The offer is made in a manly way, and I trust that, where required, it will be acoepted in the same frank and honorable spirit. We are all endeavoring to tide over an extremely difficulty period. Let us in : spirit and in feeling endeavor to soften the asperities at all pajfritn lam, &o„ 4P9T"

i Gko.VJJ&er. j May 27. (ENCLOSURE.) Carterton, May 22. \ Mr Fisher,—lt pained me much that yesterday we could offer no relief to tbe casual laborers you and Mr Mac Donald were good enough to introduce to us. If you or Mr Mao>* Donald know of any real distress amongst them which five pounds would relieve kindly draw upon mo to that amount, or let me know to whom the money should go, I hop 6 as many of the men as are able • will use the offer of the Government and go to work in the bdßb. Sober and industrious men, especially when they have families, have a large claim for friendly help, and it should . be afforded to them without offence to their self-respect. I wish I could do more, but I have many olaims from my neighbours in the country. I know the Secretary of the Board ■*■' has made earnest effort to help the * men, but the Board is a public body, and I know you will admit at ones that he must manage its affairs on business and not philanthropic lines. The free labour saved the Board from what threatened the wharf and the city with trouble and loss of a very serious character, -and we must* honourably Tteep the engagements we l made with, it.—With esteem, lam yours truly , " v , <