BIG-CHUMP BEAUCHAMP.

NZ Truth, Issue 120, 5 October 1907, Page 4

BIG-CHUMP BEAUCHAMP.

It is tiifficult, indeed, to say whether or not the general public take any deep or undying interest into the doings of the Wellington Harbor Board. At anyrate, this week the public have been made to realise that there is such a body as the Harbor Board m its midst, because that "disturber of the peace," J. J. Norths has been publicly told by the chairman of that Board that he is a double-eyed liar over his allegations against workmen, described by the nasty North man as being gamblers who waste their substance over the spin of a coin, and who are going to hell fast. North and his lying lucrubations are dealt with m another column, so that to pursue the matter would be a waste of time and heedless reiteration. Apart, however, from the prominence which the Harbor Board 'has received from that impious direction, the said Board is standing forth prominently by reason of the fact that Mr Robt. Fletcher, one of the- members, has been shaking things up a bit. Mr Fletcher seems to have the interests of the worker at heart, and consequently through his efforts quite a number of necessary and urgent reforms have been carried. Why on earth the Board, m its wisdom, has never before seen fit to carry any reforms, to make any provision for the welfare of employees is what "Truth" cannot understand. Anyhow, the Board's tiredness m the past gave Mr Fletcher his opportunity, and the result at Tuesday's meeting is indeed very gratifying. One of the many matters introduced by this Angel of Light was that the Board should, m the interests of the public health, and the welfare of the large number of employees engaged m and about the .wharves, take into consideration the advisability of establishing m close proximity to the waiting room, hot and cold water baths, for the water-side workers, and that the Engineer be instructed to furnish a report on the matter. This is a common sense proposal, and one that would surely receive the support of any man imbued with any idea of cleanliness and health. On the HarborBoard, however, all members are not imbued with any such idea. It was admitted. by Mayor .Tommy Hislop that the waiting-room set apart for employees was the most disgraceful institution that could possibly exist m any community. That this shed, or, as it is more rtolitely termed "a waiting-room" is better fitted to shelter swine than to afford accommodation for men awaiting employment and those employed, nobody will for ; a moment doubt. Private firms all over New Zealand provide much better accommodation for their cattle than does the Harbor Board for. men, and m such a circumstance, Mr Fletcher's efforts on behalf of the workers is commendable m every way. On every Board there is always a sort of local low comedian fellow, who, come what may, contrives, and invariably succeeds,, m making a donkey of himself. The Harbor Board is no exception to this rule. It has its comedian, who is an itliot, if ever idiot existed, and how such a person ever came to be a member of such a Board is one of those mysteries which can never be solved m this vale of tears. The particular ass is Mr Harold Beauchamp, some sort of a puppet m the employ of Bannatynes, and who, save the mark, is a great supporter of the present Liberal Administration. Beauchamp is a big chump, and as Ben Tillett is m our midst, and as Ben Tillett knows more than any man living concerning the conditions of the lives of water-side workers, it will be interesting for him to know how at least one member of our Harbor Board thinks the waterside worker is to be treated. What many were not backward m declaring to be a pig-stye, Big-chump Beauchamp declared to be well ventilated, welllighted, and thoroughly satisfactory establishment, and with "cutting" sarcasm he urged that a lift ought to be erected for the conveyance of strong, able-bodied men too tired to walk up a flight of stairs. This big chump Beauchamp bloke was funny to a degree, when Mr Fletcher's motion for baths came on for discussion, and, said this merchant's puppet he would support the motion if Mr Fletcher would assist him m getting a chiropodist, a manicurist, and a barber for the wharf laborers. In their own homes the laborers might not be able to look after their toe-nails properly, and it would be a great advantage to have them properly looked after. In the course of their daily work their hands became soiled, and their nails out of order, so it would be a great advantap-e to have a manicurist. If Mr Fletcher would assist to get these necessities he would support the motion. Funny, fellow Beauchamp ! Now, if there is a class of worker m the wide, wide world who eminently deserves to be lifted out of the mire of ignorance to the knowledge that they are men, hardtoiling human beings and not mere beasts of burden, it is the wharf toiler. It is such workers as these that are the butts of the ridicule of such importers' punnets as Mr Harold Beauchamp. He can offord perhaps to sneer and to cavil at the social conditions of the wharf laborer, who wants to be as clean m body as he is m mind. Beauchamp has gone out of his way to deliberately insult a body of workers who toil harder than any other class. Beauchamp might yet be forced to eat his words. The rest of the members of the Harbor Board certainly did not share his sentiments, showing, at least, that they' possessed the instincts of men, and though Beauchamp has for long run this Board and helped to keep the workers ground down, it looks as if there is a change. Big chump Beauchamp is a boisterous bounder,. an his insult to the working men on the wharves will be remembered for all time. . • . .