"ONE OF THE OPPRESSED"

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 115, 7 February 1908, Page 5

"ONE OF THE OPPRESSED"

* - DISSATISFIED TELEGRAPH MESSENGERS. (ni Tir.EGß.vni—srr.oiAr, conr.F.sroNHF.NT.) Auckland, February 6. Telegraph hoys in Auckland are, it is alleged, dissatisfied with their conditions of work. "On behalf of tho suburban telegraph messengers, I rcspectfullv ask your council's assistance in removing an injustice under which' we aro now labouring," wroto one signing himself "One of the oppressed" to last evening's meeting of tlio Trades and Labour Council. The writer'stated that, the Telegraph Department compelled "thooppiesscd" to work ,15 , hours on Christmas Eve, also four hours on.Christmas Day, and another, four hours on Boking Day, without payment of overtime. "As wo are only boys',",he continued, " the Department evidently thinks that it can work us at any time;- or' any hours it chooses. If wo had been' working for a 'private employer tho Labour. Department- would liavo seen justice done,"but'as we are/working for a Government Department wo • aro at a loss as to what course to pursue. Tho Department- has been approached in--the matter, and up to the present has'done nothing for us."\ ; Mr. Spratt. (Fishermen's Union) thought that- this'was another example of the sweating that, Went on in the .Government service. Ho considered that' the time bad arrived when they,-as a-council, should .let the woveminent know .that such a stp.to of affairs would not be tolerated.'. The Chairman (Mr. Rosser). considered that; something doi'mito should bo done, ho. moved as follows

"That this Council notices with deep ; regret that a Government which has - placed on the Statute- I'ook many laws '' ameliorating tho conditioii of tho workers in the Dominion, sweats its workers, es- - ■ pocially in the Postmaster-General s Department-',, as indicated in tho letter, from tho telegraph messenger." The: motion was carried unanimously, and it, was decided t<) forward a copy of:-.il to the Postmaster-General.. '