MESSAGE No. 20.

Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1854 Session I-II

MESSAGE No. 20.

The Officer administering the Government forwards to the House of Representatives, for the favourable consideration of the House, three letters from various persons in the employment of the Customs Department at this Port, requesting an increase of pay. 11. H. WYNYARD. Government House, Auckland, 9th September, 1854.

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Auckland, September 7tli, 1851. Sir, — I feel sorry to again trouble you respecting my pay ; but you are aware that things have risen so enormously since my present rate of pay (£B4 per annum) was fixed, that I find it quite impossible to live upon it. I therefore humbly hope that you will endeavour to obtain an increase in my salary, to enable me to meet the increased expenses which I am compelled to incur. I remain Sir, Your obedient servant, John Mathews, Assistant Locker. William Young, Esq., Collector Customs.

Auckland, September 7th, 1854. Sib, — We the boatmen employed in the Customs boat feel sorry to be again compelled to address you on the subject of our salaries ; but the present low rate of pay which we are receiving, is not sufficient for us to pay for our board, which is at present 30s. per week, and our pay only 285.; consequently we have not one penny to find ourselves in clothing and other necessaries. We have therefore to request that you will obtain a sufficient rate of pay for us, to find ourselves in things which we really cannot do without; and we think that 6s. per day is the least that will be sufficient for the purpose, and which is considerably less than other men are at present receiving. We therefore earnestly hope that our reasonable request will be granted; otherwise we shall be compelled to seek employment elsewhere. We remain, Sir, Your obedient Servants, James Peters, Edward Austin, JOHX PItIRHAED, John Bellamy. William Young, Esq., Collector Customs.

Auckland, September 7th, 1854. Sir, — We, the undersigned Warehousemen and Messengers, employed in the department of the Customs, feel sorry to have again to address you on the subject of our salaries ; but, sir, the very low rate of pay (28s. per week) which we are at present receiving, is totally inadequate to supply us with the common necessaries of life at their present rates, which are considerably more than fifty per cent, then they were when our present pay was fixed. We are therefore now compelled, and have been for the last six months past, to make up the deficiency from our little saving of former times. We would also beg to call your attention to the great difference between our pay and the pay of Warehousemen in private employ ; they are, and have been for some time past, receiving, some 385., and others 40s. per week ; and day labourers are at present receiving Bs. per day. We therefore earnestly hope that you will obtain for us a sufficient rate of wages to supply us with the common necessaries of life, at the least 355. per week, as for less than that it is impossible to live ; and without we are assured of having our reasonable request granted, we cannot, after the last of this month, remain in the service of the Customs. We beg respectfully to remain, Sir, Your obedient Servants, Richabd Milsom, William Tidmarsh, Isaac Taylor. William Young, Esq., Collector of Customs.