RE OVERWORKED CLERKS.

Evening Star, Issue 12767, 21 March 1906, Page 5

RE OVERWORKED CLERKS.

TO IIIK EDITOJI. Sir. —I hare read in your columns several fetters anent the above. " Clerk" accuses "Unionist" with being precipitate, inasmuch as he ("Unionist"')'wrote his letter without waiting to hear the result of the inquest. 3S*ow. it seems to me .such is not the case. " Unionist"' only struck whilst the iron was hot. and with the laudable intention of righting the wronsjed. What need was there for delay after reading the medic:d ttstimony. which was first published on the morning of the 17th inst? The evidence therein quoted is so conclusive, besides so reputable, as to ?how beyond doubt that accountant Sargent's tragic end wm primarily the result of overwork. .That which "the other parties had to say," and opposed to the doctors' testimony, make a poor defence. " Unionist' : suggests a remedy for overworked clerk.- !/.i the shape of a union. This, " Clerk.'' whilst allowing it might "be a wise measure," is rather doubtful of trying, preferring that they :dioukl rely on their superior qualities to free them from (heir enslaved condition. This sounds all right, and no doubt would work well if all things were equal. But it has been proved that certain employers have ever been ready to take advantage of the unprotected workman, and as the workman is the backbone of a country it is incumbent that the Government should safeguard hi* interests This is wh:it our Government are doing, and, because of that. " Clerk : ' sneeringly charges " Unionist" with being wet-nursed. The clerk usually is a long-sutfering bein<?, and 'us not much given to ventilating his grievances, but occasionally his voice is heard in the land, crying for help, and it may be that, his cry will not be in vain, but "that ere long he, too, will be sliaring tie benefits of his fellow-unionists.—l am, etc., ~ . „ • SCRIBIS. March 21. [Correspondence closed.— Ed. E.S.]