Letters to the Editor, August 24, 1895.

*THE WORKER*

BRISBANE, AUGUST 24, 1895.

Mail Bag.

Wanted – (to prepare the way for Socialism in our Time)

One Adult One Vote.

Land Tax.

Income Tax.

State Bank.

Shops and Factories Act.

Eight hours day where practicable.

Referendum and Initiative.

Taxation of every person according to ability to pay.

The State to find work for unemployment.

The State to fix a minimum wage.

Free railways.

Free administration of Justice.

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

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Fair Play - Yes.

May Day - Thanks.

W. R. M. - Notes received.

L. G., Melbourne – Thanks.

SHANGHRAUN – Crowded out.

RICHD. M'DONALD Received

R. W., Gympie – May use later on.

MAGPIE, Toowoomba – Letter sent you.

W. R. M., Ipswich – Received. Will use.

P. Langston – Very glad to hear from you.

R. M'DONALD, Winton – Read and practice, and please send along part.

HANRAHAN, Thargomindah – Made inquiries; find he is now at Coolgardie, W.A.

ROUSEABOUT, Noondoo, writes complainingly of the mean actions of “White Wings.”

OLD MINES, Pikedale – Glad to hear that the electors are going to get rid of Foxton.

S. writes that Civil Service is becoming too big for the sort of men in power to manage.

BUSHMAN writes to say that big fat kanakas can be seen driving teams through Cloncurry laden with timber.

Tom L. Mills, N.Z. - Thanks very much. Editor at present absent from Brisbane; will write you on his return.

SHEAR-SLADE – You do not mention the name of the station. All orders received have been attended to. Fifty five copies sent Alice Downs.

J. CANTWELL, Thargomindah – Your case has been no doubt a hard one. There is very little justice for workers in bush courts under the eye of the squatter.

LITMUS writes to say if white men get a fair wage and a decent mode of living they can do more work than coloured labour on plantations, and he knows it from practical experience.

C. M. HOSBACK, Murchison, W. A. writes that a strong branch of the Anti-Asiatic League has been formed at the Island, Lake Austin. He also forwards copy of principles of the League.

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DON”T forget the WORKER Enlargement Fund?

ED. WORKER – A hiatus occurs in the article “Law of Rent” in your last issue. “Anderson's tract has the same relation to the Spencerian theory of evolution” should have read, “Anderson's doctrine has about the same relation to the Ricardian 'Law of Rent' as the theories of Erasmus Darwin to the Spencerian theory of evolution .” - MACAURA.

ED. WORKER – Now that the co-operative store in Hughenden is such a success, why not go a step further. Take up 20,000 acres and sheep farm for profit. Taking into account that we have got, or can get, the two principal factors – that is, labour and land – with a small levy to buy wire with, we ought to make it a success. All hands to improve it after Christmas. Far better than lying on creeks reading “Deadwood Dick in Nevada,” or “The last Ride of Silk Basso Sam.” - R. M'DONALD, Winton.

ED. WORKER – A word for those men who gave their labour as cooks free in the strike camps last year. This year there has been a lot of fat cooks put on at some of the sheds in preference to them. This I consider an injustice to the strike camp cooks, for I maintain that the man who was good enough to give us his labour for nothing is good enough to cook for us when we become employers. No matter if they did not cook personally for you, they looked after your fellow unionists, which is all the same. - JUSTICE.

ED. WORKER – There are a number of names mentioned as likely candidates to contest the seat for Carnarvon in the Labour interests against the honourable and talented major. But, of course, the workers' organisation will have to decide whom they will support; there must be no clashing between parties. So it is to be hoped the workers of Goondiwindi will assist in every possible way in the selection of the man who is likely to get the most support throughout the whole electorate. The committee of the workers' organisation here are working energetically, and no stone will be left unturned to down Foxton at the coming election. - STANTHORPE.

ED. WORKER – Here is a sample of the questions asked at the Bowen Downs inquiry; “How many strike camps have you been in?” “ Where were you in 1891?” “Do you know who hoisted the black flag in 1891?” All this irrelevant foolery simply shows that the police, who no doubt take their cue from the higher authorities, have their minds already made up on the matter and are merely attempting to force the witnesses to prove their theory. Exactly the same line was pursued in the matter of the late Mount Cornish fire. Nothing but what would substantial to the police theory was listened to. This theory was that the shed was set on fire in three places by incendiaries – union men, of course. They could find no motive whatever for such incendiarism. As is well known, Mount Cornish is a cattle station and has been entirely free from labour troubles. The manager is well respected by everybody in the district. If the police (here is the straight “griffin” for the Hon. Tozer) had cross-examined the black gins who are exclusively employed as domestic servants at the beautiful homestead, and also further cross-examined the station jackeroos as to their movements on the night of the fire, they would have been much, very much, nearer the mark than they were. - ONE OF THE DINGOES. Billabong.

ED. WORKER – In the Legislative Assembly, on the 7^th inst., Mr. John Cameron, M.L.A. is reported to have said “that the conditions of the western men were never better than at present, and at Barcaldine the men wanted for the bore and wool-scour could not be procured nearer than Rockhampton though the wage offered was 10s. per day.” We have on several occasions come into contact with John, but have never heard of any remarkable instances of his veracity, but we venture to say at this juncture that a more flagrant violation of the truth was never perpetrated even by so shaky an individual as the member for Mitchell. What are the facts? The bore employs an engineer and three labourers at 10s. and 7s. 6d. per day respectively. It is perfectly true that these men are from Rockhampton, having been sent up by Sydney Williams and Co., the contractor (every local man who applied for work having been refused). The only local man on the job is the board's engineer. With respect to the wool-scour, the minimum rate of wage is 7s. 6d. per day, and none but well known applicants stand the slightest chance of gaining employment there. In the face of such facts as these, which are well known to everyone here, it seems absurd for even such an absurdity as John Cameron, M.L.A., to try and distort facts so widely known. But it is only a further instance of the shameless audacity and “front” usually displayed in the political tactics of the enlightened and intelligent member for Mitchell. - C. G., Barcaldine, August 13, 1895.