SHEARERS AND "THE WORKER."

Maoriland Worker, Volume 5, Issue 178, 1 July 1914, Page 6

SHEARERS AND "THE WORKER."

.;.. (To the Editor.•) • Sir, —Your correspondent E. Dye is incorrect in his statements about the inception of tho "Maoriland Worker," and as 1 am sure from tho tone of his letter ho would not wish it to-be misleading, I will set, forth tho facts of the case. ■ ■ .In Juno and July, 1910, the Shearers' Executive engaged mc as editor and "Minister of Finance" of a workers' newspaper-they proposed to issue. To Mr. Laracy belongs the credit .of sug-gesting-the particular time for starting tho.'paper, and ho named it. An account was- opened with the Union Bank, Christchureh, in my name, to be ■regarded asa Shearers' Trust Account for tho .."Maoriland Worker," and !iuto this account the shearers made payments... An arrangement was made with the "Lyttelton Times"'- Company . to print, six monthly issues, special terms being.given for monthly'settlement of oaeli account. The" first issue (which was published free) camo out in"September, aiid while it was in tue'pririter's hands we learned-that the-N-Z.. ..Federation ... of .i.Labon.rl" had' .drafted ichome for!.a.'workers.' n'ewsp.aper"to.bo. called, the'!-"Labour Lender!""- After' consultation, they consented to.hold 1 this over, and meantime buy 4000 copies per month' from tho shearorsj.to-give-tho shearers time to take a ballot to join the .N.Z. Federation of Labour (which eventuated.) The shearers themselves took 4,000 copies per month, and wo' had about 1000 private subscribers, a_d the remainder of the issuo (usually 12,000) was sold or given away. The whole o fthe money required for current accounts from September, 1910 to February,, 191.1, .was. provided by, the shearers themselves, collected by,them from ad\*rtisers, or contributed (a small-amount only) in private donations, with the 'exception of £50 paid in January by the Federation" for October: "Worker's" supplied. The total amount paid into the Shearers' trust account was (in round-figures) £1050, and tho. expenditure during the six months was £950, leaving a profit of £100. The. SI carers thon.sai'd "Halves, partner, halves," and deducted £50 from tho amount of £200 owing by the Fc'dera-! tion for papers supplied in Nevomber,' December, January,' and February. | therefore, when your correspondent. says: ,- "If I remember, rightly, they printed three issues, and dropped £200. on the transaction, which tho i ; Federation of Labour had to pay . off when they, .took over the.paper " he is not stating the facts correctly. The Federation did pay the Shearers £200 (£SO in .January, and £]o() on February 21), but this was merely in settlement of their account as pur-

chafers of 4000 copies per month for the months of September, October, No* j vember, December, January, and Feb. 1 t'.ary. The following extract' from •.report of Conference betwoen Shearers and Miners* held: in Christchureh on Fobruary 16, 1911, sets forth the r»p6ition. In referring to tho statement of • accounts, "Mr. Laracy explained that when the subscriptions to the paper were paid,in, there would be a. profit of £100 on the six months' transactions. Tbe miners had • been supplied with 400Q copies per month, and the shearers with 4000 copies, and tbe<£2o2 'liability' on each body was really, an overduo payment of 3d. per copy for papers received, less half the profit credited to each body." In conclusion, 1 might say that my financial dealings were mainly with Mr. j A. J .King (then president) and Mr.'F. J Waddell (Timaru secretary), of the Association, and both these gentlemen [ showed the greatest care and promptitudoMn keeping the Trust account replenished .from month.to month, .as.the JfaAk 'book -shows,- 'from.'..: -September.-,,, 1910, to February, 1911, when the paper . was haiidcdjoyerjtb federation of, Labour,, debjt-free, ancT -witb : operations.—l am, etc. -.- ; ■...'." E. A. ROUT. Cliristchurch. ..