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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8082, 24 September 1887, Page 4

Ministerial candidates, even when they affect to be the pink of all that is candid and straight in a politician, know how to be more than a little blind to the faults ®f the Government when their recognition happens to be inconvenient. Mr. Russell, who is contesting the Waikato constituency in the interests of the StoutVogel Ministry, is a case in point. He addressed a meeting of electors at Hamilton on Thursday evening, and in reply to a question as to whether it was not a fact that the Government had issued a circular proposing to reduce the rate of wages paid to their employees, which was subsequently withdrawn in consequence of the opposition which- it evoked, Mr. Russell blandly declared that "he had never heard of such a thing." We accept, of course, this confession of ignorance regarding the conduct of the Government made by its advocate in the Waikato; but it is certainly extraordinary that Mr. Russell should be so ill-informed on a matter which everybody else knows all about. There is not, we venture to say, an intelligent boy in the whole of the constituency whose favour he is wooing who, if he reads the Herald or the Auckland Weekly News —as no doubt all intelligent boys in the Waikato do—does not 'know that the Government deliberately attempted to do the very thing which Mr. Russell declares he never heard of. For the candidate's information we may state that daring the session of 1886 a Government circular was issued, signed by the Engineer-in-Ohief, but running in the name of the Minister of Public Works, in which this edict was embodied " The Minister directs that from the Ist August the rate of wages for unskilled labour is not to exceed six shillings per day of eight hours, and the rates for skilled labour are to be reduced proportionately. This applies to survey hands as well, except the head chainman, who may be paid eight shillings a day." This attempt to cat down wages was promptly nipped in the bud, and the circular was withdrawn. At a time when from innumerable plat* forms working men are being implored to support the Stout-Vogel Government on the ground of self interest, it is as well to bear these things in mind.