CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18625, 22 July 1930, Page 13

CORRESPONDENCE.

RECENT PROSECTIONS. To the Editor of the “ Timaru Herald.” Sir, —After the recent prosecutions of business people in Timaru by the Inspector of the Labour Department, including, of course, that famous case against Mr Clark, who, in so many words, was arraigned because the Sunday morning breakfast was half an hour late, in consequence of the work being assigned to a chef of negative qualities, I was surprised indeed to find that there was a single individual of the genus employer who would stand up and affirm that the Inspector is a paragon. But even in this rush to the rescue, he failed to sign his name, so that there remains a doubt in my mind whether he is really an employer, even if*a purblind one. “Employer” enumerates the qualities which make the Inspector an ideal occupant of the position. He affirms that he is careful, etc., indeed, according to the picture painted in “Employer's” letter, the Labour Department has secured the services of an Admirable Crichton. The Inspector may be all these things to some, but not to all. Indeed. I will assert without fear of contradiction that in many instances he is not. Of course, there may be two classes. My experience may be in the wrong class. But I will let that pass. “Employer” sadly weakens his case, if he had one, by his specious special pleading, his eulogy is fantastically overdrawn, and when I read his letter first I really imagined that here was a high-class humorist giving rein to his imaginative instincts. But second thoughts convinced me that this was not the case, that it was a case where zeal outdistanced discretion, that the writer rushed into the controversy because of personal friendship. In this conclusion I may be uncharitable, but that is the only way I can square the chop-logic used with the position as it obtains. If the writer ia, as he claims to be, an employer, then I say he is entirely out of alignment with practically every other member of the fraternity in Timaru. The aim of the Labour Department should be to oil the wheels of industry, not to throw sand into the bearings. Is it not the latter course that has been adopted in Timaru?—l am, etc., ANOTHER EMPLOYER.