SIR JOHN HALL AT RAKAIA.

Press, Volume XLVIL, Issue 7725, 3 December 1890, Page 3

SIR JOHN HALL AT RAKAIA.

TO THE BDITOR OP THS PRKSS. Sir,—Amongst a number of questions asked Sir J. Hall at Bakala was this one. " Was it not a fact that he (Sir John) was in favor of cutting down the wages of laborers V This, sir, seems a very trifling question on the face of it, but, as you well-know at these electioneering seasons, sometimes a great deal is made of such trifles; and on the south side of the Rakaia it seems to be the opinion of a number of the working class that Sir J. Hall at home is anything but a good master to his men, and the wages he pays is below other employers. This Is certainly a wrong impression, hence my reason for writing. • I have lived in the Hororata district, a near neighbour to Sir J. Hall, upwards of twenty years, and have had every opportunity of judging for myself, and I can truthfully say that there is not another estate in Canterbury where the men are treated more considerately, or are better paid. There are men on the place now who have been constantly employed there upwards of thirty years, and a number of others who have scarcely done a day's work elsewhere since they landed as immigrants ten to fifteen years ago. , These same men have, by steady employment on Sir John's estate managed to rear large families, purchase freeholds and build nice homes, and are now in positions second to no working men in the country. And to show to what extent work is carried on there, I can prove, sir, that there is considerably over 120 human beings in the Hororata district who obtain their bread and butter from that estate directly or otherwise. There is also another class of laborers who ought to be thankful to Sir John's generosity. I allude to swaggers. From ten to twenty may be seen almost any night making their way to the station, where they are certain to obtain at lease two good substantial meals before going further, and I have never heard of any being refused. Now, sir, I have no doubt some will say that I am extolling Sir John Hall's virtues for the purpose of catching a few working men's votes, but I can assure you such is not the case. My reason for writing is* simply to at least give fair play to one who has thoroughly earned it at the hands of the working man.'

I do not own a single acre of land myself. Neither nave I worked a day for Sir •1. Hall, and in conclusion I may say that I do not know Mr McLachlan, but if he is a better man for the working classes (who have my sympathy) then by all means rally around him and put him at the top of the polL—Yours, &c,

Fairplay.