THE WAGRS OF COMPOSTITIONS.

West Coast Times, Issue 133, 20 February 1866, Page 2

THE WAGRS OF COMPOSTITIONS.

T« THE KDITOII OF TIIK WKST COAST TI.VHS.

Sin,— It is no very pleasant duty on the part of employers or employees to enter into a controvcisy, whether gooil or bad, pnblioor privito, when — • " A cliipl's amang yo takin notes, And faith he'll prent them." Relying, however, on that spirit of fair play which a public journal is supposed to profus3, wo ask the favor of a littlo of your space to reply to your leader of to-dtiy in reference to tho wagos pf compositors.

In the article alluded' to you say that the " parties who reap the oxclusive benotits of v tho hi o h rate* of advertising aro the employees," who in Victoria havj " oftui mado enough in a. £ew weeks to become masters." Such an ineUn'ce. Sir, hos nevor come undor our obsorva-< tion, even in lha earlier day^ of that colony ; and you seem 'o exaggerate tho high price paid 'on tho West Coast '-o conipositors, when you say that, the wages paid l.y you have enabled three of your own " hands" to savo sul)ic!pnt in eight months to start for themselves. The stiict ac curacy of this statement will no doubt bo disputed by the gentlemen in quo.stion, so we may pnfis on to the gcneial bearings of the subject. You also say that the timo has arrived when compositors must succumb to the gonorol rates of other trades. Are carponlors, and othor skilled tradesmen, who ro;efvo thoir £1 per* day, required to work in a hot rind stifling room for a period of ton or twelvo hours in tho twenty-four in order to oarn thoir £0 a wcok ? Wo answer no 5 thoy enjoy their work in a clear and balmy atmosphoro j and in daylight. If it wore strictly corrocl, us you say, that " tho prices of provisions havo become comparatively n.oderato, and houso accommodation moro within tho reach of lha workman" wo would givo tho proposition of tho proprietors that attention it would dosorvo ; but wo submit that such is not tho case. How would such a reduction aliect workmen with' throe, four, or flvo ehiUU'on, whon provisions, houso ront, Ac, aro still at tho samo high rates as thoy wore Unco monthsugo ? It would almost roduro them to the lovol of tho ordinary unskilled laboror. Comparatively you havo not" boon paying such high wages ns havo ruled hi Dunodin and Chrislchurch j and you would now rcduco us to tho amount still 'paid -in Iho former plaoo, where tho cost of living is only ono half what, it is hero. All this, Sir, must bo borno in mind 5 and [ bolwoon.you and ours-lvcs lot Iho publio judgo. Lot tho proprietors of tho If. ('. T. consider that tho laboi- of a compositor is cheaply purchased at tho prosont rato : and that any roduotion would in »o way benefit oithor tho publio, tho proprietors! or oursolvcs. Whon it' is considered how irksomo and unhoalthy is tho occupation of a morning nowspapor compositor, and how small is liis oharo of comfort comparod with othor " craftsmen," fcho prosont rato of wa^o is uono too high 5 more especially whon ho has to toil in those • hours during which, thn groat Creator soys, " All mon should sleop." You say that the proprietors are " practical men," — aro capable and ready at any moment that may be necossary, •' to tako off thoir coats and go to tho 'oaso' thomsolvcs." Wo vould also state that, rathor than work by night for laborers' wagos, wo would profor working as laborors by day. Til; "West Coast Times" COMPANIONSniP. Wfo Fabruavy, 19G"i3,

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