THE MACQUARRIE ISLANDS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10526, 6 August 1910, Page 4

THE MACQUARRIE ISLANDS.

(Per Press Association.') Invercargill, August 5. In" connection with Mr Hatch's settling up with the Manqiiarrie men, the latter have something to say in contradiction of the statements made by Mr Hatch. The men again express gratitude, to Mr Belcher and all who have advocated their cause. It is stated that a- clear receipt was given for the sums mentioned by Mr Hatch, but the men are dissatisfied with the method, of payment, complaint being that an attempt was made to hustle each man into signing for a sum which was the result of an- imperfectly understood statement of credit and debit. They declare that of the £2 12s 7d which Mr' Hatch tooli the credit of paying as an extra allowance, because eight men had been called upon to do the work of ten, was demanded, and was granted only after a long and bitter discussion. The men also emphatically resent the misleading impression given by Mr Hatch's stated ment that they were supplied with "all the money they required immediately on arrival at Bluff," and that their "wants in the way of boots and clothing i were.- also satisfied as soon as- tliey camtf'ashore at Bluff." The position is that four or the men obtained rifew boots at prices ranging from 15s 6d to 18s per pair, and that six of them referred to obtained 10s in cash on tlie afternoon of the day on which they arrive'd.- 'No further payment or advancel of any kind was made until the following day. The men further declare that the measurement of the oil on which the payments were based was different; from what they had been led to expect, and that, this resulted iri a. loss to them of an allowance per man on 79 casks of oil. Two men, they srtyy who we're" paid-off in-October were paid at the rate of six barre.l!s to the ton of oil, whereas the party just returned had been paid on ' measurement by height,Vwith 1 the result above indicated. iV? requfest. for a partial aliowiiirce for board; from Th iirsdav of arrival at the Bluff until Wednesday afternoon, the time of the final settlement, was rejected. They adhere to -the statements allegedly made by them with regard to the'conditions-in whichthey were called upon to work an'd live on the island. As against this Mr Hatch writes to the Southland Times that there was no hustling except from the men, who threatened contincutally. Finally Mr Hatch states that all the documents in connection with the : settlement are :it the disposal 1 of a disinterested tribunal, by whose decision he is prepared to. stand or fall.