THE GRINDING GODBERS.

NZ Truth, Issue 135, 18 January 1908, Page 4

THE GRINDING GODBERS.

THE PASTRY PUFF COUNCILLOR'S DIRTY DODGES. \ A Miserable, Skin-flint Sweater. MRS. GODBER'S VIXENISH VAGARIES. ' 1 ■

Why there should so often he something sordid about the keeping of a hash-house this comfortable newspa- j per (which likes a good meal, served by a pretty girl)/ is at a loss to understand. Now, there is citizen James Godber, who tries to run Wellington's municipal affairs when he hasn't sufficient brains to master his own biz., but must needs hand it over to his wife— James's proyender factories always seem to he the scenes of something mean and disreputable. Mrs Godber certainly wears the figurative trousers m the Cubastreet shop, and "Truth" has received complaints about her vixenish behaviour to at least two nr three of her employees, . whilst Jam-tart James has been tryin~ to dodge the payment of a reasonable wa^ge. The brand-new award, which came' into operation on January 1, compels the uavment of 22s 6d a week, without lodging, to kitchen and pantry female hands and waitresses, but Godber, prior to the operation of the award, was m the habit of emnloving juveniles m the pantry at 12s or 14s, and waitresses at 17s 6d a. week. Thi,s is sweating m the first degree. Tn fact, Jelly James seems to have devoted most 'of his time to the pleasing occupation of dodging the agreement. Tn January of last year the Cooks and Waitresses' Union found, it necessary to go for greedy Godher, and to compel him to pay seven weeks' back money to a. number of girls employed on his Lambton n.,r,rr nretnises. and whom he had be-^n di-ddiine* at the rate of 5s a week e^h. He was eit^-d by the Union jas "James Godhe>\" and be conformed to the .*Vgre°ment under that name for a month or two, when for some reasons APPARENTLY TO DODGE THE AWARD, he converted- himself into "James Godber and (Jo., Ltd.," which combination wasn't affected by the award, and Jnnkett James resumed his sweating process until quite recently, when his company, which is composed primarily of members of his own family, was brought under the new agreement on January 1. Noav, the miserable shuffler has to pay full union wages, or *go up as high as Baldwin, 1 or higher. . Mrs G., who is boss, runs the show m a very objectionable manner, and is top beastiy haughty for a woman m her lowly position. In November last, one of the sweated slaves m the pantr^. a girl of 16 (no "probationers" are allowed now)', who did a woman'swork for 12s a week, andffin-^ll" got a rise of two hob, hud oeGasion to leave on account of a sick father and an accident to her mother's ant:l?. She gave notice, and evidently the time wasn't' opportune for Mrs Godber, who remarked, "Why didn't -< t ou tell me yesterday." The hashery mistress flew into a passion and tongue-thrashed the unfortunate girl when she asked for a reference. Mrs Saunders, daughter of . the irascible Mrs Godber, certainly promised the girl a reference, but she remarked that the pantrymnid was so satisfactory that she could come back again any time she wanted, and a reference was hardly necessary. The girl left m. the middle of November, and as • her mother's ankle continued unwell for some time, the daughter remained at home until a week/ or two ago, when she again applied to Mrs Godber for a inference. That uncertain lady was m the office with her daughter, and absolutely refused to '' consider the matter of a reference. Then she- evaded the responsibility by advising the girl to ring her up on the telephone, and she might get the de-. sired "character." The beastly condescension of the. wom?an ! The girl reported the matter - to her mother, who is a lady who will stand no nonsense, and that indignant mati;on waited upon Mrs Godber personally. The hashery mistress beat about the bush considerably, but finally . the truth came out. "Your daughter served me a dirty, rotten trick by leaving when she did," observed the infuriated grub-vendor. This was denied with spirit by the nirl's mother, and m an outburst of imnotent rage Mrs Godber said, "I don't want ypu coming here talking to me .about it. Tf you don't tro now, I'll have you put out." The unspeakable insolence of the ungrateful bash-burner angered the visitor, who remarked, "You didn't say that six years ago vrhen we worked fon you at tbe election." Tt appears that the lady and her husband, with a lady friend ef the family. canvassed votes unceasingly for the incapable Godber when HE ASPTRED TO PARLIAMENTARY HONORS, but the astute electors cast him out on his crimson ear, primarily because someone called him "pie.", "You got paid for it !" snapped Mrs G. "No, we did not," rejoined the thor-oughly-roused visitor. Tn fact, excepting for a meal or two, the workers got absolutely nothing from the puerile person who has lived largely on sweating his employees. "Plow dare you talk to me about your dirty, rotten politics ?" shrieked the incensed tucker-mauler. "I always voted for bim." remarked the girl's mother, with calmness. "We don't want your vote," replied Mrs G. "Well, you won't get it, anyway, rejoined the imperturbable matron. "We don't want it ; he's not going to stand again." yelled Mrs G. m triumnb, and she was adiudired by spectators to have had the best of the eighth round. It is interesting to learn that Gridiron Godber hasn't got the pluck to come un to time m November, and it seems to be a pity thnt the free and indenendent elector should be deprived of the, pleasure ot hurling bim into obsouritv again. "1 give tin-top wages '" barked Mrs Godber. "Only what you are forc-d ! )- n ' nnv, Ira the award." remarked t-i/e unabashed mother. "You can take your other daughter away too ! "^•poebod T\ T,- s Godber. with an access i of f"rv Now Uie l^dv visitor bad' nn otb«n- da-He,- w?t-h Ood'-cr : th« 'girl m question is an orphan who

finds a home with the kindly woman whenever she wants it, and slent there while working at Godber's for 17s 6d, when she should have been getting 22s 6d because lodging wasn't thrown m. This girl had been getting 22s 6d for a fortnight be-, cause Godber was compelled to five it by the new award, and it was probably the knowledge of this that angered Mrs Godber. The girl had wanted to leave, (for it is very hard to imagine . a pleasant existence with a woman like ' Mrs G.), and she 'according gave notice after the above brutal remark. A girl like this can always get work and better pay and hours than m a miserable show lilce GINGER-PUDDING GODBER'S. , '.'Truth'/ considers ,it is . doing :, a duty to' society by showing up *-eonle of this description, and it leaves its readers to draw their own conclusions upon the particulars furnished above.' There is evidence that Godber brings his employees to heel by pure intimidation, or, rather, his missus does it for him. The Cooks and Waitresses' Union has succeeded m obtaining tardy ' justice for the Lambton Quay girls of gruelling Godher, hut. apparently frqm fear, the Cuba-street employees will give no information concerning their treatment by their extraqrdinary employers. Nine months ago the Labor Department subpoenaed Miss Barnes, of the Lambton .Quay branch, to give evidence about the shop m tho Arbitration Court. The 'girl obtained permission from the manageress to attend, and was absent from 10 a.m. till 12.15 p.m.. When she 'returned she was told that the audacious Mrs Godber wished, to see her. That enraged woman said, "How dare you give evidence against Mr Godber l" and Miss Barnes was immediately sacked. Subsequent! v Mrs Godber had the extraordirarv nerve to admit to .-.sreretarv Carev that' she dismissed Miss Barnes m the manner and for the^feason described above. Both Godber and liis. disastrous missus gaye^eVidence before the Arbitration Court m November .last. '""ty girls are pure-minded "iris x apd don't want the assistance of the TTVirm." said Godber hnngbtflv. He' was rmite ignorant of the Miss R-"-nes incident, but Mrs Godber gloried' m the fact that ; .she had . s^c^od the girl m tbe manner described above. The citizens' representative on the pi"nicina]ifv is "omnolled now tn. "ive bis emnloVeps a lirinnf wry— - nnd be will be closely watched * for any hanky-panky business m the future.