Joseph SLATER [3631] ²²⁹⁶

  General Notes:

Joseph died at the Wilcannia Hospital and his occupation is listed as a labourer. His father is listed as Thomas Slater an Engineer and mother Sarah Shanning. He was not married.

The Worker (Wagga, NSW : 1892 - 1913) Sat 21 Mar 1896 Page 2 "WORKER" BUDGET.
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Another correspondent writes, calling attention to the unsatisfactory working of the Masters and Servants Act :-
I -would like to state through your valuable paper the need of being on the alert as to working for contractors. Fellow-Unionists, do not let your money run on with any contractor, unless you are sure he has a plant of his own or something out of which you can get your money when you have a verdict by law. I know most of us let our money run on when we see things going on all right ; but they can go on as right as you like, and then you can be wronged of your wages, for there is no law in New South Wales that can reach the wilfully dishonest contractor.
You must remember what a lot of us think - some that they can lay hold on bales of wool in which their labor is, others that the station can be held responsible for wages. Not so. All you can do is to get a verdict for the amount, and at the worst you can give him a fortnight's imprisonment in default of payment ; that is, if he has a wish to get it, but he can just go over the border and you cannot get a warrant to bring him back, Even if he would take the fortnight's imprisonment, it would pay him, as he would get more by so doing than he could by working for it. Note how the boys got on at Gnalta Station, at the woolwash, working for Hunter, of Victoria, who has let men in three years running. He goes away with, all the money. The men could get no more satisfaction than to know that he had washed 117 bales of wool, at 17s. per bale, in about 15 or 16 weeks. We could not find any way in which he could have expended such an amount. -The fact was, he drew the lot and sent it on before him. The manager of the station told me distinctly he was surprised when he heard the men were not paid, although it was no business of his. Unfortunately for us, the law is not just enough to make it a business of his. The station then kindly gave 5s. in the £, which was left in the hands of the store keepers, who got away with most of the money. How the 5s. in the £ will go now with those who have not received 5s. in the £ no one knows. So, my boys, don't forget next season how the law stands, and be sure to draw your money, and advise your fellow-workers to do so, when you are working for a contractor. - Yours, -&C.,
Joseph Slater.
Wilcannia