*THE WORKER* Brisbane, September 28, 1895. Mail Bag.

 *THE WORKER*

BRISBANE, SEPTEMBER  28, 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 unemployed.

The State to fix a minimum wage.

Free Railways.Free administration of Justice.

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

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BLUE BURN - New that matter has been settled, is it wise to “rub it in?”

J. F. P. - Until case is decided it would be contempt of court to comment on it.

WOOLSHED. says there were several cases of waiting for dead men’s shoes in his district.

HOUB M’Lean, Ruthven. - Your order to Co-operative Boot Factory was dispatched last week.

JUSTICE.- Have inserted par.rehospital. The remainder of your letter contains about£100,000 worth of libel actions.

THROUGH pressure of space we are compelled to hold over until next week Mr. Cross’s reply to Mr. Boyd Mackay on the question of a State Bank.

T.L.M. - Not much. We exchange. Do not know the editor. That will be all right. We have great hopes of enlarging the WORKER at the end of this year.

W. ALLDEIDON, of M’Donald’s Flat, writes to inform those interested that will he was one of the discoverers of the Croydon goldfield. Some man at Mt. Barker is endeavouring to rob him of his renown.

H.W. - “ Whatever you have to say, my friend,

              Whether witty or grave or gay,

               Condense as much as ever you can,

               And way in the readiest way;

               And whether you write of rural affairs

               Or particular things in town,

               Just take a word of friendly advice-

                                                                   Boil it down.”

ED. WORKER,- One way of purging the rolls; In a district not a thousand miles from Muttaburra, the latest dodge is for the Political Association to employ the P.M.'s son to go round the neighbouring stations finding out from the managers what men have left who had their names on the electoral roll, proceed to the town, and, having free access to the books of these men “left,” perfectly headless of the fact that these men may be working on an adjoining station.-TRUTHFUL DICK.

ED. WORKER, - Hearing that the Hospital Committee at Isisford have given the medical officer three months’ notice the men here are of opinion that this goes to support the rumour that steps are being taken to reappoint Dr. -----. As the shearers and labourers contribute from 5s. to 2s. 6d. each shed per man it has been decided by those working here that, until the appointment of a surgeon, no moneys will be contributed towards Isisford Hospital. In the event of Dr. ------'s appointment, moneys collected will be divided between the Blackall and Longreach Hospitals. It was also added that the charge of 10 per cent for collection of funds for this institution by the secretary was an imposition. - C., labourer, Ruthven.

ED. WORKER, - On my way from Gladstone to Gin Gin I paid a visit to a provisional school at Mooboolaman, a very neatly kept little school under the supervision of a Miss Barrett, with seventeen of an attendance. On looking round the walls I saw there was no committee, with the exception of one member. The teacher could not give any reason why she had no committee. On making further inquiries outside I was informed that two other members had been nominate, but, owing to their being members of the W.P.O., Gin Gin, the Education Department rejected the two men chosen by the parents of the children to represent them. Now, sir, I think this should not be allowed. Clause 84 of the Act says that the teacher must keep constantly suspended on the walls of the school the names of the committee. D. H. Dalrymple boasts of British fair play. Bah! This kind of fair play would stink in the nostrils of even Mick Duffy and reminds one of the British fair play meted out to the unfortunate convict Wiemen, who died under a proud British flag while grubbing trees on the memorable old estate, Eagle Farm. - MOOLBOOLAMAN.

ED. WORKER, - Whilst travelling up the Warrego a short time ago I called at Spring Grove, at which place shearing was in full swing. I strolled up to the galley to get a feed as is customary. To my surprise I was accosted by the party who it appears was boarding the shearers at so much per week, and I was asked to show my union ticket before I could get a feed. This, of course, I declined to do so, although I am sure I hold more union and levy tickets than ever. Mr. Boardinghouse-keeper did. So I went away as I came. I did not see the shearers about the matter, but I take this opportunity of letting them know. A few days after I met a drover (who occasionally is shed overseer) who passed there and was invited by some of the shearers who knew him to camp the day (being Sunday). On the Monday morning Mr. B. H. K. cause to him (the drover) and said that he had no right to come to his place for a meal. But, anyhow, the system is a bad one and should not be encouraged as it tends to bring about the competitive system against which we are fighting. Now this year Mrs. Smith cooks for 17s. per week; next year she will do the same, but then Mrs. Jones will do it for sixteen bob and Mrs. Brown for fifteen bob per week, and of course she (Mrs. Brown) will get the job. But then the shearer must put up with rougher food and no traveller can get a feed although they agree to feed all travellers. Anyhow I hope the shearers at Spring Grove will see this, and then they will know how things were carried on whilst they were in the shed shearing. I hope men at other sheds will take notice as the same thing is being carried on in other places, where the man is shearing, the woman cooking, and the children working on the shearing board. Whilst there are dozens of men (cooks) travelling the country penniless looking for work, why let one family grab all and the rest starve. - TRUE BLUE, Warrego River.

ED. WORKER, - All the sheds along the Warrego have either finished or about finishing shearing. With the exception of a few, agreements have been P.U., 1894. The country is in a fearfully dry state, consequently the stock is in poor condition - so poor that Tinninburra and Brewarra had to cut short their shearing, not being able to get their sheep in. The want of grass has prevented the usual large number of horsemen from being about looking for shearing, and thus the number of men at the roll calls was not over large, although more than enough for the requirements. In most places P.U. references were required. Off the Warrego, Thurlagoona Nos.1 and 2, and Bundaleer, have started. At No.1 shed a great number of men were congregated, and at the roll-call things were pretty lively. Dave Bowman has been amongst the sheds, and the hope is to be entertained that he will allay the friction that exists in minor matters. So far along the line he has had good receptions. The general opinion is that he is the right man in the right places. He has gone on to Thurlagoona and Bundaleer, and will visit as many sheds as possible in the Charleville district. Good luck attend him! His Brisbane mates will be glad to know that he is doing his best for the co-operative business. It is satisfactory to know that the people of Cunnamulla are awakening to the necessity of preparation for the coming election, and that a lawyer has been engaged to attend each revision court and look after the names applying for registration. This is as it should be, and it behoves all other places in Queensland where legal advice can be had to take example thereby and many names will be added to the National Ass. “Another C” has pointed out that if the blue vault of heaven has been your roof as long as you have been in the district you are entitled to a vote. So, workers, see to it. What can be done in one electorate can be done in another. Is it not time that you awoke from your lethargy and lent your assistance to oust a coercionist and tyrannical government and place in power one that will legislate for the great mass of the people and not for burst up and boodle banks, and subsidised lascar-worked mailboats. &c., &c., ? - C.