DEPUTATIONS TO THE HON W. P. REEVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4675, 20 June 1893, Page 3

DEPUTATIONS TO THE HON W. P. REEVES.

A large number of deputations waited on the Hon W. P. Reeves this morning at I the Public Works Office, and were cordially : received. j STUDENTS OP TRUTH. A number of Students of Truth were ! introduced by Mr Bull. Mr G. Simpson said the deputation represented one thousand persons, who recognised Mr Worthington aa their teacher, and they had been put to considerable inconvenience owing to the action of the Registrar-General. Up to the end of laßt year Mr Worthington bad held a license j to solemnise marriages, bub through some ' . neglect the Students had not comI plied with the usual formalities, and the ■ license was not renewed. Several communications had passed between that body j and the Registrar, and two petitions had ( also been sent. To their letter of April 12 : they had received no reply, and matters j were practically at a deadlock. TwocitizeDs ■ who wished to be married by Mr ] Worthington had waited for a considerable ; time, aud had finally to get some one else to perform the ceremony. This they con« sidered was a hardship. They wished Mr Seeveo to force that officer to attend to hia duties.. Mr Worthington waa shout to

apply for a mandamus to compel the Registrar-General to issue a certificate, but it had been decided to see Mr Reeves first, as he was in town. j Mr Reef es would not take upon himself ( to order the Registrar-General to do anything. That gentleman was a responsible officer, and head of his department. He j considered they were certainly entitled to j a reply to their last letter, and there was i no doubt the Colonial Secretary and the j Registrar would see that one waß sent. He > would lay the matter before the depart- ' ment, but could not promise that a license j should be issued. If the matter were not ! settled to their satisfaction, they had their . remedy under the Marriage Act. j WEST COABT ROAD WORKS. j The Mayor introduced a deputation of i four men who had left the Government ! works on the West Coast road. Mr Lomas, | the local agent of the Labour Bureau was j present, and Mr F. Simmons, tone of the deputation, read a statement of the men's complaints, which be handed to the Minister. The statement, which was signed by the live men who composed the gang was to the effect that on March 30 they were engaged at the Labour Bureau to go with some sixty men to cooperative works on the ChrißtchurchWestland road. Twenty of these were selected for the Bealey, the rest, including these five, going on to theTaipo. Before leaving Christchurch the men were required to sign an agreement to refund £1 Is for passage money, which was to be taken out of their earnings. They complain that this amount was deducted from their first month's pay, instead of being spread over a longer period aa they were led to expect. They considered the transit arrangements were very unsatisfactory. They thought that a sufficient amount per chain was not allowed for the work. They blamed the Inspector for much of the discontent existing on the works, and considered him incompetent. They urged that the distribution of the men was faulty, and that theie were not sufficient tools for the work. They said they earned £& per man for the first month, and £8 for the second, which made an average of £1 10 a per week. It cost them 12s per week for food, and at the end of tho eight weeks they had cleared only £6 13s 4d per man, which only left them 16s 8d per week to send home to their families. Mr Reeves Baid the etatement showed the Government' had done something towards helping men to get to their work. In the old days they had to walk and carry their swags. In this case they not only had waggons to carry their things, but were also able to ride. He had a report before him which showed that the gang had left the work partly owing to the wet weather. The money earned on their contract was £59 2s 6d. The average per man per day waa 7a 9d-*for the clearing contract Ss lld per day, and for the formation work 9s 4d— in spite of the inclement weather. He did think there was much in their complaint. It was quite possible the inspector had made a blunder, and he would have the matter enquired into. If any injustice had been done he would see it remedied. The depntation thanked Mr Reeves and withdrew.