THE POOR CLERKS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9988, 17 March 1893, Page 6

THE POOR CLERKS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—l notice there is at last sn agitation about the poor clerks. Years ago I drew attention to the late hours many of them had to work, but intelligent as they are supposed to bo, none of them plead l d their own cause. I suppose they ate a selfish lot like the rest of the community j those in good billets—and many of them have very rosy ones—care but little for the outsider. They, at least, ought to know the power of unity, and how to approach their employers in a friendly spirit, and show that it would be to their interest when overworked to have extra assistance when necessary, instead of working until the early hours of morning, as I have often seen them doing, whilst others have been nearly starving through lack of employment. I believe Shati the shabby genteel gentlemen feel their poverty far more than those who have always been accustomed to hard- ) ship. I have stated that many have rosy billets, but, on the other hand, many only receive starvation wages, although expected to dress well and keep up a good appearance, and sometimes, through their poverty, they get tempted to do sometMuig which lands them where their employers ought to be. If clerks would join with the working classes and teach them how to make things better all round by intelligently voting for men of sterling worth at, election tim as, I feel sure that they themselves would greatly benefit by such condescension. Let them sink caste, unite with others, and all try for what is rig“t and just. Then we may hope to soon lie -r less of poor clerks.—l am, &e., UNI i'Y.