SIR FISH AND THE JOURNEYMEN PAINTERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8557, 27 July 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

SIR FISH AND THE JOURNEYMEN PAINTERS.

TO THE XDITOfI. Sir,—l observe, by aperusal of yourpaper, that my friends, the journeymen painters of Duuedin, have done me tho honour to devote a considerable amount of attention to my humble self nud the manner in which my business is conducted, and as usual in such eases, the mountain has been in labour and brought forth the proverbial mouse. In the fiwt phce, I may say that since leaving Duuedin I have in uo way interfered in theconduct of my business. I left a gentleman in charge, in whose ability and integrity I have implicit confidence, and feeling assured he would do nothing that I would not do myself. The fact 3 are very simplo. My firm has at preseut a very large amount of work hi hand, amongst which is a very large quantity of whitewashing, or what is technically known as distempering ; this consisting of covering iron and rough woodwork. This work, in no sense of the term, oan be called pamters' work—that is work for men who have served their time to the trade. It can as well be dove by youths, or boys, or labourers who have had a brush in their hands for a few months, and it appears somewhat unreasonable to me to expect that I am to employ painters to do work at 9s per day which can be done as well and quickly by boys and youths at from 3s to 5s per day, and this is what my friends the painters require me to do. All that I can say is, Don't they wish they may get it! So far my manager's action meets with my entire approval. For painters' work it is well known to all that I employ none but the best tradesmen procurable, and that I pay the standard wages of 9s per day. Nrw, a word or two as to the man Dawson, who it is alleged is a tradesman, and whom my manager paid at 5s per day. In the firsfc place I do not believe he is a tradesman, for if he wero it is somewhat strangcs that he should have been employed as boots at the Gridiron Hotel for some considerable time. My manager informs me that this individual came to him with a pitiful yarn that he was in extreme poverty and was willing to start at any price. Mr Wren then told him that he was paying for the work not more than 303 per week, and if he pulled out* he could have that. He then agreed to start at that, and thanked him very much for giving him a chance. The reason he left off working was not on accouut of tho wages be was getting, but because in the course of his work he had to go on a high scaffold, and that, hayiug bad a fall some years ago, it made him giddy. He was then told that there was no other work to do, and if he could not do that ho would have to knock off, which ho did, and took his pay without a murmur. My manager assures me he did not tell him that ho was a journeyman painter, and, strange as it may appear, I prefer to believo him rather than Mr Dawson, or a good many who were present at the meeting on Friday last. However, I may say that in engaging this man at 5s per day my manager committed an error of judgment, as i-. is not my wish or desire to employ any man, whether painter or not, at a farthing less thau men's highest wages, nor will I do fo. Now just let me say a word or two in conclusion to the Dunedin painters. May I ask tham upon whom lies the blame of work in our trade being taken at the price it is, and in asking this question I include at least half the men who

were present at the meeting referred to. Do they not know it is their own fault in tendering for work against the employers at prices which if they work 10 hours a, day or more, cannot return them more than 5s or 6s per day ? All the trade know it, and I can declare that in order to keep at work at times my regular hands, I bavo in consequence of this taken work at no profit whatever and frequently at ft loss. I have no more to say. Ido not think it can be fairly alleged that I have been for the 26 or 27 years I have been in business other than n fair employer of labour and one who has always paid the best wages. I have, however, no intention of being coerced. The painters can go their way and I will go mine. I know them and they know rre.—l am, &c, Wellington, June 22. H. S. Fish, Jon.