SMALL OONTRAOIOBS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3330, 27 October 1871, Page 2

SMALL OONTRAOIOBS.

TO TITE EDITOK OF THE INDEPENDENT. Sir, — I was much pleased with your very pertinent remarks concerning contracts in yesterday's Independent, and can only express my surprise at the short-sightedness of our mechanics, It is notorious that almost overy small contractor has been obliged to have recourse to tho Bankruptcy Court to clear him of his liabilities ; tho parties who suppliod them with materials have severely suffered, which naturally makes them very cautious in supplying goods. Many oontracts, as you are aware, have had to be carried out by the parties who guaranteed them, and I know that tho carpenters in many instances havo taken work at such low prices that they only realised about half tho usual wages they would havo received had they been working for a largo contractor ; in fact, now overy mechanic becomes a small contractor, and the competition is ruinous both to themselves and their creditors. Were largo railway contracts taken in hand by a monied party, there would be plenty of employment for mechanics, as buildings would bo required by others than the railway company, and our carpenters would find it moro to thoir interest to watch the course of events, as small towns are sure to spring up near every station, and they, having mostly had tho advantage of colonial experience, would doubtless be preferred to strangers. Apologising for troubling you, I am, &o, A Working Man,

Women as telegraph operators have proved a great success. They send the electric spark right through a fellow.