THE OLD STONEBREAKERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9149, 3 September 1888, Page 6

THE OLD STONEBREAKERS.

PAUPERISM, STARVATION, AND BEGGARY. SnCH, according to Mr. J. C. Firth, is the inevitable destiny of these old men. Such is the decree sent forth from this princely miller, the reputed owner of enormous estates, extensive flour mills, and palatial residences—that, unless the City Council employ these men at stonebreaking, they must go into the ranks of pauperism, starvation, and beggary. Zounds ! what a future ! —what a happy prospect for these men to look forward to ! How they must cherish such philanthropy ! Can such a state of thing in this enlightened city be permitted ? Surely the Government can devise some means to prevent such a calamity. Yet such is the fiat of Mr. J. C. Firth; so who dare gainsay it? It would be futile for me to enter into controversy on this subject with such an opponent as Mr. Fil th ; so I will content myself by briefly stating 1 a few facts. Suffice it to say that hid language is nob only unqualified and uncalled for, but unbecoming a gentleman in his position. In moving the adoption of the clause, " That tho stonebreakers be dis[>ensed with and the metal obtained as required," I prefaced my remarks by stating: That the Finance Committee fully recognised the great responsibility placed upon it by the Council, whilst I, as its chairman, was not unmindful of: tho painful task set me to do, and that I was also aware that this clause was not in touch with popular feeling, and that a great amount of sympathy would doubtless be expressed for these men, which personally I was jirepared to share. Yet having the difficult question to solve, how to keep the expenditure within the revenue, we considered this a matter that should be brought before the Council, but at the same time deeply regretted that circumstances should necessitate such a step. The Finance Committee, some month or two back, recommended the Council to reduce the price paid for metal from 3s 9d to 3s 6d per yard for several reasons, but the two principal ones were that we had a large stock on hand, and that we could obtain it for much less than what we were then paying, which, if adopted, the work would have been continued ; but the Council rejected it, clearly indicating that we must bring down some more drastic measures of retrenchment, which now having done, has brought down Mr. Firth's wrathful indignation upon my unfortunate head, all of which might have been avoided had Mr. Firth, at the proper time, proved himself that which he now professes to be—a true friend of the working man. Why did not Mr. Firth, when he knew this matter was coming on, interest himself on behalf of these men in a genuine manner ? Did ho speak to any member of the committee ? Did he attend the Council meeting and champion the cause he now advocates? Did he even take the trouble to write to the Council on the matter, and take any practical steps towards getting these men retained ? It not, then where is his magnanimity ? Echo answers where ? Surely lie has more philanthropy than that made public through the Press. Mr. Firth attacks me, because I suggested that which I consider a wise provision, viz., relief works for those out of employment. He says " the heartlessness of this sentence is only equalled by its ignorance." Mr. Firth, I thank you, yet think you might be a little more considerate. We cannot all be Mr. Firths ; but still, where does the heartlessness and ignorance come in ? Because, if I am rightly informed, a very large amount of money was and is being spent by the Government in relief works, a portion of which is now being done around Auckland. Mr. Firth says Councillor Evans opposed many of the reductions on the higher salaries, but when it came to the stonebreakers who had no friends they were hit hard, voted dismissal, and consequent beggary. My answer is, that the report of committee which I moved tho adoption of, refutes his statement, and I cannot conceive how Mr. Firth could so far forget himself to write in such a strain. What I then said, and still maintain, is, that while the Council of this city is called upon to contribute about £'2500 per annum, or, in other words, about £50 per week to the Charitable Aid Board for relief of the poor, wo are not justified in voting any further sum for this purpose, till it has been shown that £50 a week is inadequate : then our only course is to strike a poor rate, and so further burden the present much-oppressed ratepayers. Last Saturday week a public meeting was called to consider this matter of the stonebreakers ; yet, notwithstanding all the interest taken in it by Mr. Firth, —yet, notwithstanding all the energy displayed by him to help these men, —the meeting lapsed for want of support. Mr. Firth says ho does not know me, — perhaps not; that is my loss; but, to enlighten him, let me state I am not a new chum. On the Ist September, about twenty years ago, I landed in this fair city a young man—a stranger in a strange landlooking for work. I had letters of introduction to several mercantile houses, amongst the number being Mr. J. C. Firth, Mr. Hague Smith, and Captain Daldy. Mr. J. C. Firth was the first gentleman I spoke to on landing in Auckland, and, on presenting my letter and stating my purport, I was told in very plain terms—well, no stranger need apply ; but the second I called upon took me by the hand, introduced me to several merchants, from which, I need hardly add, I obtained, within a few hours, a permanent billet, —so that, although Mr. Firth has forgotten me, I have of him a happy remembrance. Mr. Firth hits out pretty hard against the Council, and if we aid not know him so well, one might be inclined to believe that he is biassed in consequence of their action in his electric lighting, which was as follows ;— The reasons which actuated the Streets Committee of the City Council in recom mending the Council to decline Mr. Firth's offer to light the city by electricity, they were entirely on the score of cost, and although the Council has affirmed the principle that the city should be lighted by electricity, they do not see their way to do so at present. The present cost of lighting the city with gas, exclusive of the municipal buildings, is in round numbers 12200 per annum, and the cost of electric lights is equal to nearly three times, or say two and a-half times that of gas. Or is he angry with me because I took the liberty to refer to the peculiar position he took up re'the valuation of his property, and as ho favoured us with a little story founded on romance, permit me to give one founded on fact:— SCENE, ASSESSMENT COURT. " Profit and loss. Saved 10s in one hour and seven minutes," said Mr. Thorne, cheerily looking at his watch, as he hurried from the Assessment Court at the City Council Chambers yesterday. Mr. Firth was not so cheerful about the value placed on his mill and offices in Queen-street. He was angry. His eyes snapped viciously, and, metaphorically speaking, ho laid back his ears and kicked out all round. During the hearing of the cases which stood on the list prior to that in which he was interested, he stood among the crowd of objectors with his arms folded, his head hanging down, and a thunder-cloud frown on his brow. On the Valuator's list his ease stood as follows : —" No. 8, J. C. Firth, Queen-street, ratable value £250, required reduction to J.'150. No. 9, .1. C. birth, Queen-street, ratable value £650, required reduction to £400. ' When his turn came, he marched up to the Judge's table, and delivered himself to the following effect: —" I come here to appeal from the grossly exaggerated value placed on my property.' 1 When asked what value lie placed on it, he said, "1 can't tell. It's impossible under present circumstances to put any value on property at all. (Applause.) There have been no sales in the street for some time, and I can't tell you the value at the present time. And what is more, the extruvai/ant Htc/wuluiirt of the Government and load boilisA, and the continued borrowing, will render it a difficult matter to say what property will be worth in a short time." (Loud applause.) Mr. Barstow : " I shall reallv adjourn the Court if I hear any more such demonstrations. This is not the place for delivering political speeches, but a Court convened for a definite purpose." Mr. Kii th: " I stand on my rights. I have neglected appealing too long." The Town Clerk suggested that the Court should be guided by the capital value of the property. Mr. Firth*. "I don't know the capital value of the property." Mr. Barstow : "Can you tell me what th e property tax valuation was?" Mr. Firth: "That would bo appealing from Herod to Hell. (Laughter.) I can't tell you." Mr. Barstow; "But, Mr. Firth, you must have paid property tax within the la'it month ' Mr. Firth : "No, I didn't pay property tax on that buildinj;. Shall I tell you why?

From a variety of circumstances, I have had to mortgage that building, and the mortgagees have paid'the property tax. That's the position we're all coming to, unless borrowing and extravagance is stopped. (Applause.) That's why I stand here on my rights." (Hear, hear.) Mr. Barstow : " Yes, yes, Mr. Firth, but I simply want answers to the questions." Mr. Firth : " I told you I paid no property tax on that mill." " Do you know how much was paid ?" "No, I do not, nor do I know what was paid the year before." Did Mr. Firth display much philanthropy in endeavouring to get the rates on his own property reduced, without offering a helping ind to the other ratepayers, who were also appealing against their valuations ? In conclusion, let me tell Mr. Firth that he is slightly in error in stating that we have only 600 yards of metal on hand. We have about £600 worth in stock, which alone is quite sufficient ground for discontinuing the work ; besides, the City of Auckland is not the body to provide relief work, nor are the Councillors justified in spending money for this purpose. Notwithstanding all the abuse heaped upon us by Mr. Firth, and if Councillor Evans and his six fellow Councillors have injured these old men, Mr. Firth has done more by adding insult to injury.—l am, &c., Councillor Evans.