Our Auckland Bakers

Observer, Volume X, Issue 607, 16 August 1890, Page 6

Our Auckland Bakers

There are few trades or callings in the present age which can compare in importance with that of a baker. As the sun rises every morning, so the whole earth cries out for food and joinß aloud in the universal chorus, 1 Give us this day our daily bread.' The public journalist, most assuredly, may be expected to lend the influence of his position, whenever he may deem it necessary, to secure the proper carrying 1 on of this important industry. The public have a right to be well served with this article of prime necessity, and those who are ensraged in supplying our bread have a right to expect a fair return and fair play in the pursuit of their calling-. It is said that ' every heart knows its own bitterness.' It may also be said that every trade knows its own difficulties. The bakin? trade all over the world for generations past has be^n carried on under very objectionable conditions , bakehouses have been built in improper places, and badly constructed ; poor wretches have slaved themselves to death with long hours and small pay ; but a better time is coming, and is now here. We are glad toknow that many of our Auckland bakers have happily built up their businesses upon more enlightened and humane principle^, and, as a consequence, these men have succeeded in gaining public confidence. Some of our Auckland bakeries are excellently situated, well built, lofty, and well ventilated ; the workmen are treated, as men should be, with every consideration, and we are glad to know that such employers are prosperous. The present agitation and combination are hopeful signs, especial! j slm we see men and masters meeting together in friendly conference. The intelligent employer and the sober, industrious workman have nothing to fear, but every grood thing to hope and expect from such a state of things. But very often there are black Bheep in a flock, and these require constant watching and attention. One of the chief causes nf the bakers' difficulties in Auckland has been with the grocers. They have ' sweated ' the poorest of the bakers, got their bread under cost price, ruined the masters and starved the workmen, in order that they may use the poor wretohes as decoy ducks, and thus enable them to sell their inferior groceries ; but the public are awakening to the fraud and very soon respectab'e people will avoid such grocers' shops We shall return to this subject again, but meanwhile we counsel the bakers to put their foot down firmly upon this fraudulent foe.

A certain globo business shows a discrepancy of between the actual and estimated value of stock. Bollard wants a fool and his money to go out and settle at Avondale. The fools without money usually go there — to the Asylum. Householders should be wary of a one-eyed man who is going about to private houses in search of work. He usually calls about dusk. I hear that Mr Harrow has in an application for the post of Relieving Officer to the Charitable Aid Board. I was not aware of the vacancy. The house from which the late Capt. Eattray's sister was evicted remains empty, and the gentleman who bought it from the trustees under the will is beginning to think it must be boycotted. The Auckland Bootmakers' Union advertise the withdrawal of the boycott, and advise all unionists to buy their boots from Garrett Brothers. All trades-unions should copy this example of fair play. Mb Cossar was in rare form at the football banquet. His little speech in response to the toast of ' the ladies ' fetched the boys Hip. knowledge of the other sex is not confined to what he has read in books. Everybody commends the bold stand taken by the Railway Commissionei s in resisting the demand of the Trades-Unions that they Rhonld help to ' boycott ' Whitcomb and Tombs. As I said last week, ' the Boycott must go ! ' It seems that the late Mr John Probert was under no influence when he dictated the terms of his will, which he did in June last, before Mr Best visited him in his last illness. Of course that fact does not affect the Observer's argument, but it is just as well to be accurate. The Wellington Press has of late spoken out very plainly against the methods of Trades-Unionists. Post hoc, though not necessarily propter )wc, the runners who deliver the Press struck work for a higher rate of wa^es. The demand was resisted, and ' blackleg ' boys now deliver the Press. The Mays-Harrow controversy goes on merrily. Mr Oliver Mays has given the Pauper a dig by stating at the Charitable Aid Board that some residents at the Lake would gladly give Mr Harrow .£SO to clear out. I expect the Pauper will bring out a Roland for his Oliver. Those who delig-ht in New Zealand scenery, could not do better than visib the show rooms of Mr W. J.. S. Percival, artist. This gentleman has taken rooms in the same building as the Government Insurance, and here are displayed some of the choicest gems of native scenery we have yet seen depic'ed on canvas. The collection is a moft large and varied one, comprising beautiful paintings descriptive of the North and South Islands. Many coanoisseurs ha,ve visited the studio, and the highest encomiums have been passed on the pictures. Mr Percival, who hails from Dunedin, is in attendance and is most courteous to visitors, giving a very racy description of the county which each view is supposed to represent Of course the pictures are for sale, and we are pleased to say there is an increasing demand.