THE IMPENDING STRIKE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4188, 22 September 1881, Page 3

THE IMPENDING STRIKE.

TO THB EDITOB OB THB STAB. Sib,—ln your leading article of Sept. 19, you say (so far as we have been able to ascertain) there aro but three real increases proposed to be paid to the salaries of any of tho officials for tho current year, and you then cite three clerks in the Legislature and Parliament. I think if you turn to the estimates af the Railway Department of the South Island, you will find that there is an increase of pay to nearly the whole of the office Btaff of that department in which the discontent exists. If I am not mistaken the head of this department has an increase of salary of £100, and his chief clerk £50, and I understand nearly the whole of the remainder of his staff are to receive a large increase in thoir respective salaries. Why is it, Mr Editor, that these individuals are so deserving of an increase of pay ? Is it because they have so effectuaUy reduced the workmen under their control. Have they squeezed so much out of them as to bo deserving a share of the plunder. Previous to the reduction the average rate of pay in the turning and fitting department was 10s 7d ; jt the present time the same department is reduced to the average of 9s 6d (thiß appließ to mechanics only). After heariug the men had taken the extreme measure they have done in this matter, I made it mv business to enquire minutely into the subject, and can vouch for the correctness of these statements. From all I can learn, the principal thing to bring on the crisis at the present time, arose from the faot of returning the 10 per cent, to all other departments with the exception of this, and the men seem to labour under the idea that theirs is Btill retained to increase the pay of some already too highly paid servants. This is not the only grievance existing as I have seen by your "correspondence." Many complain of the petty tyranny practised in this department. The men have • likewise been deprived of publio hoUdayi and other privileges which are enjoyed by aU other departments, and under every other British Government j and last, but not least, the utter impossibilty of advancement, as any position to whioh a decent salary is attaohed is immediately secured for the fool of the family without any regard to ability, ex- \ perience, or anyother necessary qualification. I hope, Mr Editor, to have the pleasure (with your kind permission) of further investigating these numerous abuses at some future date. —lam, ko., OLD CHUM. [Our correspondent ought to be fair. It is j true that the Estimates of the Department of Publio Works show that come officers have a slight increase, but then in conse- I quence of other officers having been abol- j ished, they have only received the very slight addition to their salary through the much greater reeponßibiUty which they have had to undertake, and the extra duties they have been called upon to perform. In cases where the salary has been increased it will be found when dispassionately examined, that the official has now to disoharge duties which previously occupied the time of two. The increases given to tho officers of Parliament were widely different from this. At the same time we repeat that if the ten per oent is to be removed, the concession ought to be extended to aU in the receipt of Government pay.—Eb. Stab.]