THE WORKING MAN OF VICTORIA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 747, 23 January 1888, Page 4

THE WORKING MAN OF VICTORIA.

HOW HE LIVES.

("Australian Star.") Interviewed by our Melbourne representative on Wednesday, Mr Bennett, secreUrr of tbe Viotorla Trades Hall 0 unci), said :— " You ask me for details of the oost of living for the workirg man m 'his oolony. We I, I will give thun te britg.. an 1 c»n. Ftr.t kb to rent. V v mo» know that the working man m Melbourne generally r wm the h use m whioh hi live*. Th»> is his aim. Hut. m o*««n where he rev • his h- m<> he pays 5s or 6* per week f>r a t*o-roomei hous_, np to lOi or 12-» fur one larger, *ccord:ng »<i the number f his famly. The inndl >rd gtnera'ly p>ys all r&t< s &nd t _i. which he chsrgi'S for m the rent. Iv this Oilooy, a man "Ught to bo >ble to prov-d* himself aud wife, and i«y three or f' nr ohildren, with the neeesmtries of life for 26« per week, including re t. Of o< U'»e some have to manage with less, but that Is about the usu*l figare la the mining districts a man can have a piece of groond large enough to serve as a site for a cot'.sge, with a piece cf grcu.id over for a garden, as a freehold, as long as he holds lhs miner's right, but he has to pay licaljsxes. "Yoa want partfeu'ars as to the neoes aarlea of \if_ 1 Ab r-gsrd« food, then, »hs price of beef varies from 3 1 per Ib to 8.-1, tbe latter prloe lm the very best ramp steak j good ro*t<tag beef oan be got for fiorn 3jd to 6d per lb. Mutton oan be bough by tha aide at 2d to 2£ i per lb, and n herwise from the latter price op to sd. Bread is sold at from 4d to 6 J per 4 b loaf. The lower prioe Ij oharged to those who tetoh tbe artlole themselves from the baker and pay ossh . The bakers, of oourse, charge more for delivering according to distance, and alsi for givlog credit, Oandles of colonial mcke can be bought vtry cheaply— Ds tc 7si per lb. Butter joit oow is sola retail at frcm 6d to ls per lb ; at and about the higher prloe a really gcod quality is procurable, Milk is delivered at 6d to 6d a quart. " You think olothlng must be dear be* oauie this ls a protectionist oolony. Well, all I osn say, and I oan a%y It truthfully, U that you oan buy olothes more cheaply now m Viotorla than when Freetrade prevailed. The imported ol'^h is .cheaper than that manufactured In the colony. If you want Viotorlau tweed, yon will have to psy more for It, but you will get a more lasting artlole. The lowest prioe for a suit of olothes made of Imported material is about £2 2s, and for a suit of colonial tweed about £2 15j. Navvy boots, for rough work, are sold a* from 7s 6d per pair upwards, and the generally used elastlo side boots at from 8s 6d. " About tbe price of tco's and imple ments I can say little, that matter not being In my line. Very few tools are made In the oniony, beoause we have not yet learned to turn out good steel. Nearly •11 the tools used are, therefore, Imported. I c*n only say that I luve never heard a complaint from the men as to the prloe tbey bave to pay for these articles. I must tell you we are not Indiscriminate Protectionists. Protection does not mean that yoor are to ex tot duties on artlolßß whloh are not produced or manufactured In tbe country, It is not part of ou; fiscal system to mak» a man pay m r tban the duty free price for any thi- .re to support the principle. We ' 8 J uat be practical aud rational &> profess to " No, practically *' , ; OVB * l J l bi"g*. nouneroplojefi > . ir *f l ? klf '&> there a ' e Is, no such ol' • Ma'bourne nuw-that a fe* md' •* BB » there may ' <-'f cows-, bo _o la-' ,vl ' u * ls oat of wok ' ba t h ' ,ro ,d iy ofemploymenc I can s.iMy pay • <'*^t':ere is not a carpenter, br cklayor, or mason out of w.rk at pr* *_rit, Bui'dmg Is golu_ on brsky, S "d the preosra-ti.-ns f.ir the Ctntennial KxVb»t.i<>n are emp'oying a large number n/ hanrg pwticuUrly crrpento-s. Du^ng last winter when wet matter pevailed, and tha buUdinq tmde was slack, there were a few a- employed bere; but not m»ny. Ff« the last eight ye*r«i the working men of Viotorla have had no real reason to complain of want of employment "Yes I hav ' net<n m Sydney. Nothing there struck me mor^ tian that, with sooh a fioe natural harbor, thpre shonld be bo lirtle amp ba ldmg nod repairing going on. Beaunfu. Well yes, the harbor is p-etty enough, bot I was thinking mora uf the use 'hat ou_ht to be made of its splendid natural advantages. Why if Melbourne had «U3 a harbor as that, where you can bring the largest ships rljjht up, she wonld be 20J> per cent farther ahead of Sydney. That's all we envy Sydney for —-the harbor. Ob, we are cot afraid of any competition with New South Wale* and we shall not be jealous of her even if she adopts proteotion. When I was m Sydney, a little time ago, th&re seemed to be a feeling among the workmen there of considerable antagonism to ns of Victor!*. Perhaps when New Sonth Wales adr pts Protection, and we all stand on the same I otlng, we shall be more brotherly. That will certainly be the case, should Int. roolonlal Freetrade follow with Protection, against all non Australian impo ts ..uc:i a pohcy would bind us altofither to cur mutual advantage. Of course, if New Houth Wales put duties en imp^rtß from Victoria, wo shall have to fight her ia a tariff war ; but we look forward to a mors friendly arrangement of fiscal reoiproolty.