THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1895.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 2, Issue 132, 14 August 1895, Page 2

THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1895.

The Herald is the medium by which certain disaffected workmen at Galatea seek to obtain redress against tho Government, and if matters were as stated by our contemporary they certainly have sonic cause for complaint The Herald, however, is not disposed to place implicit reliance on the statements made and after enquiry neither are we. How to deal with the "unemployed " difficulty is a big problem and will always remain so. We scarcely think the Government have got the hang of the matter as yet and it is doubtful if any Government ever will. The men's statement is that they were to bo paid "6s a day and found '* from the time that they arrived in Hotortia till they reached their work. This was a period of nine days. They were, howevar, only paid for four and consequently 75 men claim 30s each. They also com* plain that the Constabulary and troops were taken on by coach to Galatea while the working men had to " pad tho hoof " the whole long, weary way. They also allege that the price of provisions was too high and cite as an instance that flour in Rotorua " was 16s per cwt, 10s had to be paid for cartage and 4 s Od per cwt for packing, making 30s 6d per cwt." We will deal with the last statement first. All provisions for tho unemployed were delivered at tho mouth of the gorge, close to Galatea, within easy reach of the camp. From the books of the storekeeper who supplied the bulk cf the provisions we take the following list of prices, cartage included. Flour, 16s per lOOlbs, whito sugar 4.} d per lb, tea 2s 6d per lb, butter Is 4d per lb, soap 3), d per lb, 21b tin meat Is Id currants 8d per lb, and raisins 9d per lb. The men were allowed ono day for travelling to Rotorua nnd three clays reaching the work, four days in nil, fcr which they were paid 6s per day instead of 3s the usual marching allowance. Any time lost beyond that was either by their own fault or through wet weather. At the Government store, Galatea, wholesale rates are charged, plus carriage. It was for the benefit of the men the store was started as other tradesmen wore arriving wit'i goods and charging exorbitant prices. Tlieso works were started to relievo men avowedly destitute, but the conduct of many of them while he: - e did not propossess the people of Rotorua in their favor. The excesses of a certain section of the party became so prominent that a member of the Government, who was here at the tim's, issued instructions which led to their haetv removal.