Letters to Editor: January 19, 1895.

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane, January 19, 1895.

Mail Bag.

The WORKER does not hold itself responsible for the opinions of its correspondents.

NORUNDEL, - Thanks.

D.I. - Your way of putting it: “We have not left you; you have left us” is ingenious. Supposing this is so, for whom will you vote. There are only two parties in the State – Labour and anti-labour.

ED. WORKER, – Entree by card was the announcement in the capitalistic papers to hear Mr. Russell, New South Wales Astronomers. I am sorry to seen by the above that this gentleman does not show the generosity and good feeling towards the working class which all the great scientists of England endeavour to cultivate by throwing their lecture hall, &c., open on equal footing to the poor as well as the rich. - Tasman.

ED. WORKER, – As there are many difficulties in the way of getting our names on the roll, and we therefore cannot obtain reform until settled in a district, I would advocate the establishment of co-operative stores and homes for the unemployed. If the money paid away in the late and previous strikes had been expended in this direction I venture to think great good would have resulted. You may publish my name, as I don't suppose its publication will do more harm than speaking my mind straight wherever I go. - David Walker, fencer Dubbo Downs.

ED. WORKER, – People in this district are afraid to publicly express their opponents in the upper station of life. Any local man who would come forward and give a lecture would be boycotted, and, if in business, ruined. The only way to get over this unfortunate local difficulty is for a lecturer to pay the town or towns in this district say quarterly visits. Let the visits be advertised in the local paper fully two weeks before date of lecture, and I make bold to say much good to our cause would result. I feel sure there would be money enough collected in the hall at each lecture to pay the expense. A stranger coming here could say and do things that a local man dare not. - A. Servant.

ED. WORKER, – Let every union man lay Carrie Honey's letter in last week's WORKER to heart, and we'll see what progress there is to be made compared with what has been done by former practices. Let each one who professes to belong to the cause prove to the misguided free labourer that he is a better man morally, and throw aside all this loud flash, useless balderdash (for one can't call it language), act as is becoming of men, and make the free labourer wish he were one of us, But if we don't he'll be able to say, “Why, I'm just as good a man, if not better, than your union man is morally.” In fact it gives them the chance of saying that they would not mix up with us on account of our immorality and loose talk. - TRUTH, Taroom.

ED. WORKER, – I notice in the press that men have been fined for working on Sundays at the Lithgow coal mine, N.S.W. Well they do the same at the – Company's shaft, Gympie, and have been doing it for a long time. They carry on all their work except the hauling namely, driving, stopping, sinking. This is not necessary, but the men are compelled to work 7 days a week or get. The company are the richest mine-owners on the field and greediest. They smash the law, left and right. By the way, the revenue officers ought to give some one a turn for evading the dividend tax. Last dividend made a certain company declared 1s. 6d. per share, and a bonus of 3s. thus dodging the revenue. There are other similar cases here, – SIX DAYS, Gympie.

ED. WORKER, – Although not in sympathy with the crew of the slaver William Manson (for I look upon this South Sea trade as the vilest blot upon the fair name of Queensland), at the same time I look upon it as unjust to keep these men, or any man for a day in gaol before they are convicted. I am sure in this enlightened age this barbarous system of “bail” ought to be done away with, except in very extreme cases, such as murder. They say the present law is just and equal for the poor as well as rich. What rot! Can a poor man get bail? Not much; but bank robbers and swindling syndicators can. I am quite sure as safe and effectual a way of securing a man's appearance at trial could be found without depriving the individual of his liberty until he was found guilty, and one that would not cost the State a tithe of what it does now. With our large paid force of detectives and police we ought to be ashamed to have to resort to this barbarous old system that is only fit for the Dark Ages, – Pro Bono Publico.

ED. WORKER, – The following is worthy of record: The secretary of the Victoria Hospital, Barcaldine, advertised lately in the local paper for tenders for supplies to that institution for the year 1895. As is the custom in every hospital in Queensland, according to rules, notice is sent to every member of the committee, and a date appointed to examine the tenders by a sub-committee there from. This paid secretary omitted to summon the meeting for the above purpose. Then he waited on the vice-president and informed him of his neglect of duty, whereupon it was agreed by both that they should open the tenders in “camera” and use their own discretion. On the following day a notice appeared in the secretary's window announcing the successful tenderers. Three days later the general meeting of the committee was held, both secretary and vice-president being lightly reprimanded for breach of the rules, and eventually the same committee approved of the tenders already accepted, thus condoning both offenders. When this state of management is allowed to be carried on, this committee of the Barcaldine Hospital deserves censure from all subscribers. -  Subscriber Barcaldine.