Half-a-Crown a Day.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11728, 1 December 1905, Page 2

Half-a-Crown a Day.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir. — In hi& speech at the Opera House on Wednesday evening Mr Ili'scldcn took the Hon. tho Premier 'to task for condemning th? Atkinson Government for reducing the wages of working-men to 3s (id aifd 2s tkl per day for married and single men respectively, and strove hard to make his audience beliovD that Mr Seddon had unduly blamed the Atkinson Administration for their action in this matter. Now, as a matter of fact, and to show how far the Atkinson Government were prepared to go in cutting down wages, let me remind Mr Haselden that Mr Blackett (railway engineer), at the instance of that Government, wrote to the boss of one large gang of men directing him to dispense with the services of those- who were not what are termed "bullockcra." The boss in question replied to this demand to the effect. that "all were good men, and well worth their 3s 6d and 2s Gd per day." Back went directions from the Department that a "weeding 1 out would have to take place." The reply received to this latter communication was scarcely what was expected by the Atkinsonians. It was as follows: "If you want any dirty work done do it yourself. I won't." Xo weeding out took place in that gang, thanks to the straightforwardness of flic boss, though other bosses whose sympathies were not with the workmen did as tho Government of the day desired. — I am, etc..

LIBEEAL.