Dalgety's Shipping Agents Rules
Rules which applied to the Clerical Staff of Dalgety's, Shipping Agents in Australia in the 1850s
RULES
(i) Godliness, cleanliness and punctuality are the necessities of a good business.
(ii) On the recommendation of the Governor of this Colony, this firm has reduced the hours of work, and the Clerical staff will now only have to be present between the hours of 7 am and 6 pm on week days. The Sabbath is for Worship, but should any Man-of-War or other vessel require victualling, the Clerical Staff will work on the Sabbath.
(iii) Daily prayers will be held each morning in the Main Office. The Clerical Staff will be present.
(iv) Clothing must be of a sober nature. The Clerical Staff will not disport themselves in raiment of bright colours, nor will they wear hose unless in good repair.
(v) Overshoes and top-coats may not be worn in the Office but Neck Scarves and headwear may be worn in inclement weather.
(vi) A stove is provided for the benefit of the Clerical Staff. Coal and wood must be kept in the locker. It is recommended that each member of the Clerical Staff bring 4 pounds of coal each day during winter.
(vii) No member of the Clerical Staff may leave the room without the permission of Mr Ryder. The calls of nature are permitted and the Clerical Staff may use the garden below the second gate. This area must be kept in good order.
(viii) No talking is allowed during business hours.
(ix) The craving for tobacco, wines or spirits is a human weakness and, as such, forbidden to all members of the Clerical Staff.
(x) Now that the hours of business have been drastically reduced, the partaking of food is allowed between 11.30 am and noon, but work will not, on any account, cease.
(xi) Members of the Clerical Staff will provide their own pens. A new sharpener is available on application to Mr Ryder.
(xii) Mr Ryder will nominate a Senior clerk to be responsible for the cleanliness of the Main Office and the Private Office, and all boys and juniors will report to him 40 minutes before Prayers, and will remain after closing for similar work.
Brushes, brooms, scrubbers and soap will be provided by the owners.
The owners hereby recognise the generosity of the new labour laws, but will expect a great rise in output of work to compensate for these near-Utopian conditions.