Wellington.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 26, 25 April 1890, Page 2

Wellington.

(From Our Own Correspondent). Politics. It is stated on the best authority that the session will commence about the second Thursday in June. Ministers have been scattered abroad lately, but they are now coming to the Empire City to arrange a programme for the coming session. What that programme

will be is a matter of speculation, but it is to be hoped it will comprise a few important questions of general interest and not digress into matters of detail, which have been the bane of all past sessions. Generally Bpeaking'afT'phst legislation has only been half digested, and if our law makers are not troubled with dyspepsia themselves it is quite certain their actions have a very unhealthy look about them, and the State gets into a very bad state, a statement which cannot be denied.

The Woollen Mill Difficulty. .

There has been a good deal oJ: wrangling over the lock-out at the Petone Woollen Mills, and the chairman of directors, and Mr D. P. Fisher secretary of the Trades Union Council, have been calling each other very queer’ names. The sympathy of the public appears to be with those who ; have been dismissed, as they have been receiving substantial aid from all parts of the colony. It is very probable that the matter will now be placed in the hands of arbitrators unconditionally.

The Influenza,

This epidemic has pretty well gone the rounds of the town, and very few have escaped. It has been no respecter of persons, being strictly cosmopolitan in principle. It has not only its draw backs, but its advantages have been very great. lor instance—if any one could not keep an engagement, it was put down to influenza ; if a man came home late he told his wife he had been detained by influenza ; if a bill could not be met influenza was the cause of non-pay-ment. If a man got drunk it was influenza which caused ; him to lovingly embrace a lamp-post or measure the width of the footpath at right angles as he went along. In fact many people have had influenza although the in? fluenza has not had them for the express purpose of having an excuse for the nop-falfilment of aw. engagement. Influenza has been quite a boon to some people to escape the consequences of their actions or want of action. If there was a small attendance at a meeting the same excuse was forthcoming, and the only people who did not make use of it as an excuse were lovers, for they religiously kept to their engagemeats influenza or no influenza.

The Flaxmills.

The flaxmiii owners formed a deputation to wait on the Premier, Sir H. Atkinson, the other day and asked for the modest- sum of £IO,OOO to be placed on the estimates to ear courage the improvement in the-••ma-chinery for dressing flax. One'speaker said that the value of the industry to the colony last year was over £400,000, and thought the flax industry was quite as important to the colony as gold mining.

The Surplus.

The official figures have now been published, and the surplus for thjb financial year has been put down at £ iII),GOD. How many neglected districts and individuals are casting longing glances at that surplus it would be difficult to say ; but of this 1 feel certain, that it will vanish from our gaze like a beautiful dream and' leave very little good behind. Still it is gratifying to know that we have a surplus as it keeps our : credit good if the general public do not derive any direct benefit from it;

Trade Unions.

Nearly every trade here is, forming itself into a union, and the good effects of this unity on the part of the workmen is already being felt by the reduction of the hours of labour, increase in the wages paid, and the cause of abuses uprooted. I feel sure a much more healthy state in the labour market will be brought about, and the mad competition indulged in by trades people will be checked to the mutual advantage of every body. The Sweating Commission. The commission has been sitting here for some days past, and many instances have been brought to light where men and women have been obliged to work long hours to enable them to get a bare subsistence. We have often heard about seryantgalism, but one of that class has given evidence before the commission, and given her idpa of colonial mistressjsm- She stated that she had to work 16 hours a day for seven days a week for 9s, and in many cases one servant was kept where there ought to be two, and so on. She heard a great deal of talk about strong men, only working eight hours a day, while there was nothing said about a weak woman having to work doublejhat number of hours. She preferred domestic service to any other work, but had gone to dressmaking because' it was simply impossible to do the work required of a servant by a mistress. Many good girls would go to service if mistresses were a little more considerate. J believe she is quite right as in some instances girls are treated in service in a manner which is not at,all creditable to the mistress who employs them.

A Good Young Man.

A good young man was teaching at a certain Sunday school in this good city, and being out of work 'the minister gave aim a u > e to a board mg housekeeper to say he would, be re-

sponsible “ for a few days board.” The young man extended the few days to eight weeks, and the Minister was requested to pay the amount, but he did jfcaipt know how it was possible to stretch “ few days ” into eight weeks, and objected to pay the whole amount (£6 6s). The boarding house keeper sued him, and : he placed two weeks board into court as ,a settlement of all claims, but tlie magistrate ruled that “a few days ” might mean eight weeks, and gave judgment accordingly with costs. So; this good minister has to pay £8 for this good young man teaching Sunday school. It seems anyone can get credit . even in these days by being good. I cannot understand a magistrate ruling that “ a few days ” may mean eight weeks, but I easily imagine if a man offered to' pay an account in “ a few days” be might stretch it to eight weeks or even ; ■longer.,...