PETTY CLERKS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2049, 29 August 1868, Page 3

PETTY CLERKS.

(To the Editor oftJie&rxGO Daily Times.)

Sir—lt is with some surprise that I read in Mr Allan's letter on Monday last, in "speaking of a ploughman's wages being L6O, with rations—"The sum is nbtmnre;ison:ible, when it is considered that a petty clerk, half idle, receives at the rate of L2OO per annum:" I presume that Mr Al'an means : Government clerks, from the fact of this being the usual salary paid to Government subordinates, and, >lso., that merchants' clerks would not likely remain long in their situations, if the term "half idle "'could with truth be applied to -them. - I happen to be acquainted- with ; Government clerks, gentlemen by birth and education, who get but L2OO a year, and to contrast them with; ploughmen is strangely absurd to my mind, though I. have, seen no small portion of Golonial life myself. Let me \ ask Mr Allan, did he ever know-a clerk with a family live comfortably and respectably, and save, anything, on L2OO a year. Rert, food, clothes, a little amusement occasionally, education, doctors' . visits, and' the Church, swallow.. up L2OO a -year very quickly. Many a Government clerk regrets that, having come 17,000 miles to. better his position, he did not try something.else, where progression would be the reward of perseverance, instead of hoping on and trusting to lender mercies where there were none, and thus frittering away his i opportunity till an increasing family renders a move impossible. Tt is not the pleasantest thing in the world to remain in stati.!, quo with expenses increasing yearly. If Mr Allan .wishes "to make a hit where it would not be amiss, perhaps, let it be at the heads of departments— those -who take all the cream—it is in that

corner of the Government service where something could be saved. If he spoke of them bemg 'half idle,' he misjht not as a rule be far wrong ; or if he'styled them petty considering the work a * man generally does who gets his L6OO a year, few could say he was telling a lie Clerks and governesses are educated and must keep up an appearance ; and their reward, contrasted with others, i 3 such that had 1 a dozen sons T should not wish any of them to become Government clerks I am > &c- Observer.