Retrenchment from a Worker's Standpoint.

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane  July 1, 1893

( By One Interested.)

Since the recent electoral campaign, retrenchment has been the order of the day in Mount Morgan. There is perhaps no mining town in Australia which boasts as great a proportion of non-producers in comparison to the total number of producers as Mount Morgan; there is probably no mining centre which has lavished money so uselessly; there is probably no mining centre where real retrenchment could be carried out so effectively and yet so carried out as to leave the non-producer undisturbed and comfortable. We have it upon the authority of a very eminent thinker that, where great evils exist, small remedies not only produce small results, but they produce no results at all; and the truth of this is beautifully exemplified in the present proceedings of the Morganaire management. About 46 men have been discharged from the service of the company, of whom 22 are married. Estimating their wages at forty-eight shillings per week we shall find that the company saves by this stroke something like ₤5,740 per annum or ₤478 per month.

At the present rate of a six-penny dividend the company is deriving an income of
₤25,000 per month from the mine, and by this brilliant piece of financing they increase their monthly dividend by something like ₤300. Just let us think; For the sake of an extra three twenty-fifths of a penny div. on a pound share, forty-six producers have been dispensed with; twenty-two families plunged into distress and a feeling of bitterness engendered that will rankle for many a day. Besides the hardships entailed upon the discharged hands there is also to be considered the effect of the change on those who remain in the retrenched departments. If it be stated that their work is increased by 50 per cent this statement will probably be rather under than over the mark, and to this glaring injustice the unorganised workers of Mount Morgan, like all unorganised workers, have to bow the head in silence, Little by little they may perhaps learn the truth of Marx's saying that “ Capital has no conscience.”

So much for the serious side of affairs – now for the ridiculous: Mount Morgan is the paradise of the non-producer; as petty boss he flourishes; in store and assay office he lifts his head aloft in proud consciousness of his superiority to the common worker. Beyond the shadow of a doubt the company could save ₤250 a week by retrenching among the aforesaid gentry – that is to say fully twice the amount gained by the present scheme at the expense of only a tithe of the suffering. Not that any such scheme is advocated in these columns for a moment – for it is difficult to see how a company paying a sixpenny monthly dividend on a paid-up capital of 17s. 6d. Per share or something like 30 per cent per annum, should find retrenchment necessary at all. But if curtailment of expenses be necessary it should surely be applied in such a way as to save the greatest possible amount at the expense of the least possible number of sufferers.

In conclusion the following facts are worthy of notice: It is notorious that the conditions under which men labour at Mount Morgan are most detrimental to health. The dust clogs the lungs: the gas inflames the bronchial tubes; the impure air gradually poisons the whole system. Surely men subject to such conditions should receive a little consideration. And if these disadvantages do not weigh with the powers that be a little consideration should be extended to married men who, upon the strength of assurances of constant work, have made little homes in the locality and sunk their little all in house and improvements, but who now, under the influence of the panic induced by fear of further dismissals find their property lying on their hands almost valueless. Do the directors not comprehend that every one of these dismissals is a finger-post pointing out to every thinking man the road to, and the imperative necessity of either State or Municipal Socialism?

Quotes from THE WORKER June 10, 1893:

 “ Within the past fortnight men have been dismissed by the Mount Morgan Company. Not because of their political principles of course – but still they happen to be men who worked for the return of Labour candidate M'Carthy and against Mount Morganaire Q.N. Bank director Callan.”

“Writes a correspondent: Of all the elections in Queensland none equalled Mount Morgan for intimidation. For three days before the election, beer was sent by the bucketful to every shift, whilst a requisition to Callan was hawked round to every part of the mine and when a man refused to sign, remarks like this were made: ' Oh, then, we know which way you'll vote; take the consequences' On the week preceding the election tickets inscribed 'Vote for Callan or stay away,' 'Vote for and make no sacrifices,' were distributed by the thousand. On the polling day no one could vote without first passing by at least a dozen bosses whose business it was to put printed tickets into his hand and tell him what to do. The result was that 150 didn't vote and Callan secured the seat by a majority of 43.”

and another quote from THE WORKER June 24, 1893:

“ M'Carthy, the Labour candidate for Mount Morgan against Callan (director of the Mount Morgan Company), has since the election been dismissed from employment by the Mount Morgan Company. Such terrorism by the Law 'n Order moneybags will recoil on his head before he has done. M'Carthy has purchased a bakery on the Mount and will give the Dividendaire his quictus at the next election.” 


( Extracts from the Book:  Mt. Morgan: Gold, Copper, Oil. ~ By John Kerr.
 
“Little of Mount Morgan's wealth was evident to its residents.”
 
“The streets were muddy tracks, the houses perched anywhere and
the shanties suggested a chinese atmosphere. The untidy town, its
boundaries stopping feet short of one of the richest mines in the
world, paying no rates, made an uncomfortable contrast not only
with D'Arcy's London, but also with elegance, comfortable and
cleanliness of Charters Towers. Mount Morgan gold output
rivalled that of Charters Towers, far exceeding it from 1888 to
1890 and was double that of Gympie. The difference – Mount
Morgan's wealth left in the gold escort never to return.”
 
“The gold attracted visitors in droves, from Governors-General
down. When Lord Northcote visited in 1904, he was feted at the
spacious directors residence, Carlton House. Knox D'Arcy
visiting Queensland, was the gracious host, and carved the roast
for the banquet. As each pair of roast ducklings was carried in
steaming hot on silver platters, he carved off the breasts and they
were whisked away and replaced by another pair in an endless
stream.”)