Untitled

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 11391, 5 December 1898, Page 3

tractors' profits do not go to the men ; they used" to, when the system was. firsl started, and for perhaps 18 months atterwards. Now they are cut down to birely a living wage, varying in different districts, and varying to afferent men according to how they are considered worthy in the Inspector's estimition. The prices paid per cubic yard for road irork were just double at the commencement what they are now. Wherever the contractors' profits go to, they do not now go to the men; it is most reasonable to conclude that the profits go to ibe Inspectors, for there is really an army of them, and they are provided at the country's expense with houses and clerks aud grooms, and rousabouts to milk cows and chop firewood — and horse allowances, aud in some cases unlimited expenses. But the figure of tho men's earnings and dates and names and correspondence, which are incontrovertible, will be quoted in support of these statements.

As to quick and satisfactory appeal — speaking with accurate knowledge of the tiubject, theie is absolutely uo appeal without the movement of most elaboiate machinery necessitating months of correspondence and delay. If a man makes any complaint, or even a demur, he is a marked mtn, and gets starved out, or if he has friends "somewhere," he gets transferred to another district and sufficiently bottle-ied to keep him quiet. This is not co-operation. Take, for instance, th 9 inquiry held on the Ohura Boad works two years ago — some of the men had for eight months been writing complaints to the Minister of Labour ' and the Minister of Lands, and the inquiry was only tventually obtained by two of them goiDg to Wellington as delegates — thus necessitating considerable expense, lastead of instant consideration of comj plaints it was the reverse, delays of more than the ordinary red tape description were the order of going. Five months before the enquiry came off, one man after waiting six weeks for an answer to his complaiut, had to ask the M.H.It, for the district, Mr McGuire, to hurry up the matter, and then got a reply over Mr Tregear s signature stating that the man "waß not a co operative labourer in any way" because he was a settler in the Hosb Settlement, and the proper person to apply to was Mr Barron, the Undersecretary for Ci own Lands. (All correspondence or documents referred to, are open for public in'spectioa at the office of this paper). A remarkably fine distinction indeed ; because a co-operative workman was a settler he was "not a co-operative labourer in any way". It must be admitted that alter this put off there were some strong letters written on behalf of this man, letters which raiEtd the ire of the local Survey Department, bat it must also he remembered that no Englishman, not even a navvy, likes to be humbugged, and tbis letter of Mr Tregear s was pure humbug. In applying to the Minister of Labour the men were only carrying out the programme Jaid down by Lim, and if there were any red taj c difficulties in the way, they naturally cons-idered ie was his duty to protect them from officialism. But this was really the second "pat off '; for a mouth or so before, in response to a petition signed by about 80 men, Mr McKa% , chiet clerk to the Labour Departs ment, came as far as the Inspector's house, but did not go amongst the men. was only interviewed by two of them and to one it was barely an interview, for Mr McKay was packing up his traps at the time,, rushed in anil out of the room and etated he was in a hurry to be off. The Bole result of Mr McKay's visit was to harden the heart of the local Survey Department, and (aB the Minister of Lands told the men's delegate when they went to Wellington) a snubbing for the Minister from the said local office for sending Mr McKay to interfere.

If there had been some simple means of appeal, matters would never have got to the paes they did, for the enquiry, when it came off, was a big affair . A tent was pitched for a Coui t House, where Mr J. E. Marsh, J.P., Inspector of Settlements, and Mr Hay, Engineer, presided. 36 witnesses were examined, and the proceedings last six days. Messrs Strauchon, G. F. Robinson, and W. Nathan appeared to watch the case on behalf of the Survey Office, and two of the workmen, Messrs Curie and Cummins, ou behalt of the men. Evidently it was the intention of the authorities in Wellington that the very utmost should be done to give the men a fair hearing. There was only one thing to their disadvantage, and that was that they had to face the music of a Court without a trained advocate ; for it was a case of mind against matter, where three officials with highly trained intellects watched for every word to trip them up -— making ( i/se of many incidents, like bani&tere, to ucore a point —indeed a pleasant outing, an intel lectual ramble, for the gentlemen, while for the men it was a fight lor bread.

As an instance of manoeuvring to the men's disadvantage, which would not have been allowed by a barrister, it may be stated that one of the men, as a mattor of red-tape, was not allowed to remain in the Court and examine witnesses in support of bis charges, he was told to trust his case to the two delegates and instruct them to examine witnesses. Very properly he declined to go on with his case in its entirety, for the two delegates were full up with about at least a dozen other cases. And because this man would not go on with the charges when he was not allowed to plead or examine witnes&es, the other side claimed that he was unable to prove his case. And again, in summing up agiinst the men, evidence was made use ot which had only been suggested, not sworn to.

la another article this inquiry will be referred to aa showing how mind has been, and is, pitted against matter. The point sought to be proved is that, asa principle of Cc-oper&tion, there i 3 urgent need of some simple and effectual manner of appeal, to that the men should be heard and guaranteed against any after consequent s, such as being starved out.