LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 279, 18 August 1908, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT. Sir, —Was it a man or a beast that was found so horribly decapitated in tho accident , tho other evening at tho Thorndon railway crossing? From tho little impression this affair seems to have made upon tho publio mind one might almost imagine that Charles Davis, a. fisherman from Makara, whoso life was so terribly ended, counted for no moro than an animal. Is it that tho publio mind in Wellington has grown so accustomed to theso horrible tragedies through drink that it is now incapable of any fresh sonsation?

But I write to call attention to, what seems to mo /a most remarkablo omission of duty on tho part of the jury. If Charles Davis had died of poison taken by his own hand no doubt pains would have been taken to find out who supplied him with tho poison. Evidence was given at tho inquest that Davis had been on a drinking bout for three weeks, and that on tho day of the accident he had been seen the worso for liquor in a hotel. 'J'ho jury in their verdict very properly acquitted of blame tho driver and fireman of the • engine tlmt ran over Davis and killed him. Why did they not ask that an inquiry should be made to find out who had supplied, him with tho drink under the. influence of which ho met with such a terrible death? In the interests of public morality it was certainly duo that when there was such a flagrant instance of a terrible tragedy directly traceable to an illegally permitted drunkenness' some 'attempt should have been made to discover and bring to book those who furnished this man with the drink which drove him to such an awful end. —I am, etc., W. J. WILLIAMS. August 17. . WAGES OF CLERKS. Sir,—l have been, very interested in tho controversy that has been going 011 in your paper in reference to tho wages and conditions of employment of clerks. I am very much in sympathy with everything that has been said in reference thereto, for when' wo consider the amount'of responsibility usually entrusted to tho clerk, the long hours ho has to work, together with tho gentlemanly appoaranco his business compels him to keep, it is obvious to. those engaged in that occupation that tho remuneration's totally inadequate to tho service ho renders to his employers. , I regret that no proposals havo been put forward to. show how tho position of clerks can be improved, for I certainly think the time .has arrived when thoy must resort to some measures' to improvp their conditions.

What is there to prevent us from taking advantage of tho industrial laws of our country? Surely they wero not designed for the benefit of the artisan class alone. ' W r hy cannot wo form an association and enjoy tho many privileges which an Arbitration Court award would givo to us ? In. Australia tho clerks hijvo a strong organisation, which lias improved ■ their conditions of employment to a very appreciable extent, and it only remains for,,tho vclerks of this city to take the matter in hand, and our object would bo achieved.' I am fully prepared to shoulder my responsibilities and to strivo for better conditions for - ourselves, but unfortunately l ean do nothing alone. So I make this appeal to others whose feelings may be . similar to my ,o\ni to make a combined effort to organise ourselves, and thus relieve to ■ some oxtont the pressure of modorn conditions, which perhaps presses moro heavily upon us than .it does on tho more fortunato artisan class, who havo all tho advantages of the Arbitration Court'awards.

Wo havo only ourselves to thank for being forced to accept anv conditions of employment the employers may offer to us, and tho timo has arrived when we must shako off this apathy and follow tho trend of tho times by organising our forces and securing some of tho decencies and. real comforts which help to lighten the-burden of industry. I would bo pleased to enter into communication witli thoso who aro desirous of furthering this necessary'object''per the'- medium of the . G.P.0.—1 am, etc.. BUILDER'S CLERK. August 16. THE HUTT CAS QUESTION. Sir—Just a few words by way of reply to our friend Mr. Ward. He has tacitly admitted that his statement in reference to tho reduction in tho price, to'Petone consu-. mers, is incorrect. Thero is, therefore, littlo left to say on this head, beyond this, that it is always best to get your information at first-hand. . Mr. Ward,complains that Petonc. gave very short_ notice of' its proposals. Surely this is also incorrect.. Tho Hutt Council not only considered: our proposals, but also considered and decided upon tho question of erecting works of their own at the timo allowed, besides doing their ordinary business. Let me assure Mr. Ward that if tho final upshot of this dispute means tho erection of another gas works, and it should so happen that tho works aro uncompleted, when tho agreement terminates, then he .will find Petone agrecablo to help to keep the supply of gas'going until his Council's works aro completed. Regarding- supply of coke and tar, Mr. Ward appears to bo unaware of.tho fact that we aro supplying his Council- at the present time. Wo aro prepared to enter into a contract to supply coko to. the Hutt Council ,on >the best terms. As to tar I havo .iittle doubt that if our Council had been approached, satisfactory arrangements would havo been made.

Mr. Ward errs when-he says the Petone Uuncil are very much troubled in mind about this matter. It seems to me Mr Wards constituents are very much more concerned, and justifiably so. Personally 1 am convinced.,the erection of another gasworks in the Valley would be one of the biggest mistakes. tho present Hutt Council could make One large works could supply tho whole of tho needs of tho Vallev much more cheaply than two could possibly, do. Let the Hutt Council and especially my friend Mr. Ward get up on a higher piano and refuse to be dominated by tho ''Little Fedlrngtoir' spirit.—l am, etc. August 17. ■