AS OTHERS SEE US.

Evening Star, Issue 9776, 5 August 1895, Page 3

AS OTHERS SEE US.

TO THE EDITOR. Sik,—l have to thank the writer in ‘Scribner’s Monthly’ for June, quoted in your issue of Saturday, for noticing the resolution dealing with large Government salaries adopted some time since by the Dunedin Knights of Labor, as it gives me an opportunity for correcting a slight error in the printing of that resolution—the word “ gradual ” being given in place of “ gradi • ated ” and also enables me to again cr. attention to the clamant necessity for a substantial reduction in the expenses of managing this colony. The resolution in question as passed reads : “ That in view of the general fall in the value of produce, and of the decrease in the incomes of all connected with agricultural and commercial pursuits, the Government be asked to initiate a gradual reduction of all salaries of £2OO and over, the same to apply to the Civil Service, including the Post, T:'egraph, and Telephone Offices, the Railway and Insurance Depart nents, and all tho;e on the educational staff, primary and secondary schools, and universities, so far as under the control of Government, and that the amount so saved be used in providing work for the unemployed and completing the railways in course of construction.” Within the four corners of this motion I am sure no one could discover the demand attributed to us by the writer in ‘Scribner’s’ —viz., “ that all Government salaries of over £2OO per annum shall be reduced till they are no longer so.” However, that is the deduction of the writer in question, and he expresses his conclusions in not the most pleasant language. The economic circumstances are the same in England and the United States that they are with us. The large fall in the value o* produce has enhanced the value of fixed incomes, and now the income of £4OO of a few years ago has increased in spending power by at least 25 per cent., and is now equal to £SOO. Falling values operating on other sections of the community have had an altogether different effect. • They have led to a large area of land being thrown out of wheat culture, which employed a considerable amount of labor, and which, being now used for sheep, only calls for a minimum ..mount—the area so altered being between 1892 and 1894 not less than 300,000 acres. This means want of employment at once, and it will be a time before the unemployed can be absorbed in other channels. And then our artisan population have been affected in a somewhat similar way, though not to the same extent; but their employment has been and is precarious, uncertain, and intermittent. In other words, there has been a very great deal of hardship on account of want of employment , and this has been accentuated by our system of taxation on absolute necessities, the poorest amongst us having to contribute out of their small doles to the incomes of the well-to-do. For instance, a poor widow receiving aid from the Benevolent, for every 2s she expends, say in tea, fid goes in the direction named. Sugar does not escape, neither does lighting; and there are a hundred and one things besides which all contribute. The Government propose a microscopic reduction on tea and kerosene this year, but I am afraid, so far as Dunedin is concerned, that it will be lost between Bond street and George street. The likely effect of certain items in our present Budget has been pointed out; one has already been felt. The leather merchants are not slow to take advantage of their opportunity, and have increased the price of certain lines from 15 to 20per cent., and this on goods that we export. How much of the increase will the workers obtain ?

There would be no great hardship in those having large incomes being called upon, for the time being at least, to assist their poorer brothers. There may soon be an alteration of circumstances, but meantime the necessity exists, and should be met.—l am, etc., The Mover of the Resolution in Question. Dunedinj August o.

THE MILBURN COMPANY' AND MESSRS A. BRISCOE AND CO. TO TBS EDITOR. Sir, ---As the letters and telegrams of Mr Hugh Macneil, jun., published with the evidence given before the Tariff Commission at Auckland by Messrs Craig and Fenwick, give a false statement of the transaction between the Milbuin Company and Messrs Briscoeand Co., will you kindly publish the following facts, which show the transaction in its true light In November last the Working Railways Department, then under the control of the Commissioners, called for tenders for hardware, including cement and lime. the. cement being either English or colonial. The’contract being for hardware, the Milburn Comp my could not tender, but on the 12th November quoted to Briaooe and Co, and other Dunedin hardware houses to supply cement at £3 12s per ton “ for railway contract.” These tenders were returned. The railways passed under the control of the Government, who in January called for fresh tenders for public works generally, including both the working and construction departments of the railways. Separate tenders were invited (I) hardware, (2) colonial cement and lime. The Milburn Company then held the contract for colonial cement and lime, and tendered for the new contract at 4s per cwt for cement, Is 3d per bushel for lime, and 2s 2d per bushel for hydraulic lime. Messrs Briscoe and Co. did not again ask for a quotation in Dunedin, but their agent in Wellington endeavored to get a quotation, which the company’s agent, under instructions, refused, on the ground that a tender was being sent in from the Dunedin office. Messrs Briscoe and Co. say they relied upon the November quotation for the railway contract for hardware, cement being only one item among hundreds, and including English cement; and on the faith of that quotation tendered for the public works contract for colonial cement and lime only. Their tender is 4s per cwt for cement, Is 31 per bushel lime, and, I believe, 2s per bushel hydraulic lime, being lower for hydraulic lime and equal for the other articles. Their tender was accepted in preference to that of the company. In February Messrs Briscoe and Co, called upon the Milburn Company with an order for cement, which they asked should be supplied “ according to quotation.” They were asked if the order was for the working railways, replied in the negative, and were then informed that no quotation had been made. They thereupon referred to the company’s letter of the 12th November, when it was pointed out that that quotation was distinctly limited to “ lime and cement for railway contract.” Mr Hugh Macneil, jun. being out of town, that One order was filled conditionally as a personal favor to the local manager, who was informed that all future orders would be filled at the contract price, £4 per ton, and that Mr Oakdcn would .see Mr Macneil on his return. On the 13th February Mr Oakden called upon Mr Macneil and offered to supply his firm with all cement required for the Government contract at £3 15s per ton, leaving Briscoe and Co. the profit of 5s per ton, which they would make without even handling the cement. Mr Macneil, jun., refused the offer, and said he would enforce delivery in terms of our quotation of November, Mr Oakden thereupon withdrew the offer of £3 15s, and a subsequent offer was made “to supply for the Government contract for twelve months at schedule prices.” This offer Messrs Briscoe and Co. accepted on the 19th February, and the company have since supplied them with all cement ordered. The company's arrangement with Messrs Wilson was simply that they (Wilson and Co.) should not tender for Otago, the Milburn Company not to tender for Auckland, the remainder of the colony to be open to both.

The statement of Mr Hugh Maoneil, jun., that the Milburn Company “have simply boycotted us ” (Briscoe and Co.) is utterly untrue.—l am, etc., J. White, Chairman of Directors Milburn Lime and Cement Company, Limited. Duuedin, August 5.