ROAD MEN AND THEIR WRONGS.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1099, 19 August 1873, Page 3

ROAD MEN AND THEIR WRONGS.

(To the Editor of the Westporl Times.) Sir,—The public meeting held on Friday evening exhibited a most painful state of matters between Mr Burke and his workmen on No. 1 contract. It would appear that Mr Burke, the better to carry out his contract made certain arrangements for supplies with, and granted an order in favor of Messrs Stitt Bros., for the sum of £4OO to be received by them from the first moneys payable upon the contract. When the first £2OO became due, Mr Burke is said to have proposed that one half that amount should be placed to the credit of supplies and the other half be used to pay wages and sub-contractors. This proposal it appears was declined by Mr Stitt who insisted that the whole sum be handed over to him. Under these circumstances Mr Burke was unable to make terms with any other parties, so the workmen remain unpaid. The works on No. 1 contract are stopped, and the indignation meeting at the Theatre was called. It has, however, been ascertained that since those difficulties arose an injunction has been put upon the £2OO by Mr Stitt, so that

until the matter is settled between that ! gentleman and the contractor, or tho ! latler is forced into the Bankruptcy Court, the money must remain in the hands of the Government. It is much to be regretted for the sake of all conserned that the mutual confidence between those two persons has not been preserved, in order that the contract might have been completed without the painful financial disclosures, which have been brought to light. As it is. the only people likely to be benefitted by the present complications will be the Government and the lawyers. The workmen have adopted a very doubtful method to recover their wages. The general impression among disinterested observers is that Friday's meeting was called and conducted by persons inimical to their interests. The irrelevant and impractical character of the resolutions cirried were certainly below the enthusiasm of the audience, and the delay which must ensue before the business of the meeting can possibly be given effect to, will be ruinous to the men themselves. It is very easy and no doubt pleasant for the working men at a public meeting, especially at Westport, to denounce the Government for giving contracts to " men of straw," who may be considered incompetent, and pass resolutions petitioning that the contract of their employer be cancelled, but how can such action ensure payment of their wages ? It can only end in breaking the contractor. A result iu no way to be desired by the wages men, although it might suit the object of Unscrupulous creditors. It is truly pitiful to observe how hard working men can be cajoled in this manner. If, instead of holding a public meeting, they took prompt measures to prove the several claims, and attach any moneys due upon the works, as already suggested to them in your columns, there can be no doubt they would receive their wages. In future we ought not to be troubled with any more street scenes between the contractor and his indignant workmen, which, considered in the most charitable light, have been simply contemptible. Yours &c, Ralph. Westport, August IStli, 1873.