The Westport Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1874.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1204, 21 August 1874, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1874.

A short time since the Resident Engineer in "Westporfc notified that in any agreement entered into between the General Government and contractors for the railway works, the clause prohibiting the truck system would be stringently enforced. Following thereon, the District Engineer in the Greymouth district did likewise. Notwithstanding this, the truck system, so the Greymou'h papers aver, is still being carried on in Westlaud under the noses of the Government officers who ought to take action to cheek the evil, and the complaints of the men employed »n public works are becoming every day more numerous, but nothing will put a stop to the iuiquitous system except an enquiry by Commission with full power to act summarily in th • matter. As yet, seeing that his operations in this district havo only just commenced, it would be unwise to prejudge the arrangements of the contractor or give more than very qualified credence to the murmurs already beard that the? truck system has been commenced and is expanding

into full swing. Tho first pay-day has not come round yot and until then, we opine, the majority of the men having received advance notes, mortaging in fact their first months wages, are hardly in a positiou to substantiate any complaints they may make. Yet for the advantage of all concerned in tho work aud in the interests of the Westport community any infringement of the prohibition should be promptly and unreservedly exposed, for there is no good and sufficient cause why any anticipated profit from the prosecution of the railway works should accrue only to a few favored individuals. The most efficient check upon the system exists in the strict limitation of the contract time, and the penalty involved by nonfulfilment of such condition. It compels the employment of workmen in number proportionate to the extent of the work, and prevents to a great degree any dawdling over the contract for the sake of keeping some few score of hard headed drinkists spending their substance as fast or faster thau they earn it. The bonus offered for the speedy fulfilment of the contract is also another iucentive to employment of all available labour in the field. Judging from the energetic start the contractor has made every hope may be entertained that beyond finishing the contract in a workmanlike manner, and speedily, all other matters are of secondary importance. Yet it is necessary to note that the slightest symptoms of encouragement to the truck system will arouse public disapproval, and hence should be carefully avoided.