THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1736, 10 January 1888, Page 4

THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

A powerful organisation, under the ibove name, has, it is well known, been for some years m existence m the United States, and we observe by a circular addressed to us by the Honorary Secretary, Mr Frank Guinness, that a similar organisation is proposed for New Zealand, a branch having been formed at Christchurch \ Under the presidency of Mr W. H. Hosking. The circular before us sets out the objects of the Association, which are many, various, and m some respects ambitious ; some of a political, some of of a politico-economical, and some of a social nature. Among the first group — the political —we find the following set forth as the aims of the members, viz. : — The substitution of popular election for the nominated system m respect of all public bodies ; the abolition of plural voting m all Parliamentary elections; the adoption of the principle of payment of members Of the House of Representatives ; the abolition of all State-assisted immigration (leaving the labor- market to find its own level), the prohibition of Chinese and Coolie laborers landing and settling m New Zealand except under a " sufficient " poll-tax ; and the advocacy of the settlement of all inter- ! national disputes by arbitration, so as to avoid the miseries arising from warfare. As regards the first of this group of proposals we concur that wherever possible popular election should be substituted for nomination, but there ate cases, as for instance m connection with the Land Boards, m which the Crown should be represented, and though the constitution might and should be generally elective, a certain proportion of nominated repressntation must necessarily be retained. In the proposal to abolish plural voting at Parliamentary elections we entirely coincide, but as regards immigration we do not agree that all State assistance should be withdrawn. Immigrants introduced under the 'nominated system at the joint cost of the nominators and of the State have proved to be generally most desirable acquisitions to our population, and such immigration cannot be looked upon as an interference by the State witb the labor market, as those who are thus brought to the colony at the instance of iheir friends have homes and employment awaiting them, and do not go to swell the numbers of the unemployed. As respects the poll-tax upon Chinese, there is already an impost of j£w per head, and it would appear to be a "sufficient" tax to effect the object m view, the number of Chinese m the colony of late years having decreased rather than increased. As regards the substitution of arbitration for the sword m settling international disputes, theie can be no two opinions as to the vast advantage which the world would reap from such a desirable change, and we fully approve of the Knights of Labor doing all they can to effect it, but we very much fear that their humane and praiseworthy object is not destined to be realised within the lifetime of the present generation unless ere it pass away the long-looked for Scriptural Millenium shall have commenced its beneficent term. Under the second group — the politico economical — the aims of the organisation are expressed to be— the enactment of laws giving mechanics and laborers a first lien on their wotk for full wages, to secure for both sexes equal pay for equal work, to make 8 hours a legal day's work, to secure .that the incidence of taxation shall be so adjusted as to equalise the burden m proportion to the power of bearing it — such taxation to be by way ef a land and income tax — the reserving of tbe public lands (the people's heritage) for the actual settler, " hot an acre to be given for railroads or to speculators," and the establishment by Government of a national circulating medium, without the irtervention ol banking corporations. Here we have what m America would be phrased as "a very large order," enough to occupy the energies of tbe Knights of Labor for many years to come. Some of tbe objects proposed have already been to a large degree attained, or are within easy reach of attainment. For example " The Workmen's Wages Act, 1884," protects workmen to the extent of sixty days wages — and no workman should allow his wages to fall into arrear for a longer term than this — and if the Act be not sufficiently explicit or far-reaching, its amendment will not be a work- of much difficulty. Again, the enactment of a law making eight hours a legal day's work will not be difficult of obtajnment, but we do not think that it will effect very much as it is obvious that very wide exceptions must be made, and even then i': Fill be impossible to prevent masters and servants from contracting outside of the Act, that is to say making special contracts, the Act notwithstanding. The proposal for a just distribution of taxation m relation to the power to beat the burden has our cordial approval and support, and if the Knights of Labor devote their energies to that one great ebject first, they will do well. There is lots of room for woik m. this direction. The reform urged is a great and genuine one, but it will not be obtained till the people are educated up to it, and speak out plainly on the question. That the Crown estate should only be parted wiih to the bona fide settler is sound policy, and this' is P>e ostensible aim of all our Land Acts, but it will need pains and patience to devise absolute safeguards that shall prevent tbe speculator from driving the historical coach-and-six through our legislation m this particular. As to not giv'ng a single ; acre for railway construction, we entirely dissent, being of opinion that it is better policy m some instances to pay for such works m land than with ruoney raised upon loan m England. Again, m regard to the proposal for a State Bank, while we agree that such a Bank might perhaps be started wi'h advantage, we do not concur that the State should contemplate doing the whole banking business of the colony. nor that it is possible to make paper legal tender without an adequate reserve of coin or bullion to fall back upon. We iear that the Knights of Labor have not fully thought out this part of iheir programme. The last group of objects set forth m the circular undei notice is what we have termed the "social" group, which embraces the promotion of harmonious intercourse among the members of the organisation by^readings, recitations and lectures, tfae .crcaUun, of a iuod to eunsist tf {

donations, etc., for the building o! halls ( and establishing of libraries, the estab- 1 Hshment of co-operative institutions, both productive and distributive, tbe establishment under Government of bureaus of labor statistics, the substitution ot arbitration for strikes, the prohibition of the employment of children under fourteen years of age m workshops, mines and factories, the securing for the toilers of the world a proper share of the wealth they create, more "society advantages," more of the benefits, privileges and emoluments o . the world, and the securing of just ; legislation for the wage-earning classes by tbe election of such members to the House of Representatives as will truly advocate their views and secure their rights. In the main these are very excellent aims, but the Knights of Labor roust be content to work towards them steadily, and to succeed gradually and slowly. AU that is here aimed at can scarcely be hoped to be achieved without patience and perseverance, and to the members of the new organisation we need only recommend the words of Longfellow, as especially appropriate to the heavy task they have set themselves : — Let us then be up and doing With a heart for any fate Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait.