The Evening Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4079, 23 March 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1876.

Notwithstanding the brilliant success of the Public Works policy, there is a growing apprehension that a time of difficulty is near. Tradesmen complain that trade is dull, working men cannot so easily find work, and the Provincial Government has set the example of reducing the wages. To say that there is no cause for this uneasiness would be absurd, for every fresh fact is the consequence of a series that have preceded it. This fact cannot be denied: work is not so plentiful as it was twelve months ago, [ although there is throughout the Province a fair—we may say a full, .demand for labor.

We do uot apprehend any serious falling off from our prosperity, if the administration of affairs is not interfered with by mistaken men, or if it does not fall into the hands of quacks. Our wish is that wages should remain as high as is consistent with a fair profit to employers and employed. Undeniably there is a tendency to equalisation of wages of labor throughout the civilised world. _ There are, however, exceptional places in which they continue to rule higher than in other countries, and New Zealand has been one of them for some five years. Even our nearest neighbors have been paying lower rates than we, and it therefore behoves us to be Careful to take no step tending to deprive us of the vantage ground we have so long enjoyed. Yet there is danger of this, and the risk is increased through those most interested not clearly 'under-

standing the causes which lead to and maintain high wages. Nothing is easier to comprehend than that if two masters seek to engage the only man to be had, he is in a position to make his own terms ; while, if two men seek work from one master, if so minded, he is in a position to beat down wages. It follows, therefore, that the rate of wages depends upon the amount of work to be done in a given time by the number of hands available. If work be plentiful, compared with the men to do it, there is a fair demand for labor and wages are maintained; if work be slack and men comparatively plentiful, then, as a necessity, there will be some men out of employment and wages cannot be maintained, for necessity wul drive some to take leas than the current rate.

Bearing this fact in mind, which is as unending in its operation as the law of gravitation, the cause of our prosperity for tne past, five years stands revealed—there has been plenty of work compared with the dumber of men available to do it. How is this to be accounted for, seeing that during that time the population has increased fully one third, principally of able men capable at once of doing full days’ worlds in their respective callings ?_ We are continually receiving

letters from men, some apparently we ' educated, and all evidently well intentioned, condemning immigration and anathematising the Government for bringing population into the country. With every respect for their good intentions, they should be able satisfactorily to explain what must, to them, be very puzzling, that in the face of a large number ‘of workmen coming into the Colony, work has been so plentiful ; that wages have been higher for a longer period than has ever been known before. Some jump to the conclusion that the money borrowed by the Government has been the cause; and they maintain that, as soon as that is spent, there will be nothing but misery. Those who imagine that the Government works have given employment to one half or one quarter of those who have come to New Zealand since the immigration system began, can have but a very poor idea of what has been going on in the Colony. There can be no doubt that the addition to the work necessary to be done of construct-

ing railways, helped materially to the prosperity that has been enjoyed; but, of itself, it would have done little to give employment to our present population, for it must be considered that so tempting have wages been, that the goldfields have lost their superior oharm; and many who for years preferred the uncertainty of mining to precarious employment, . have been induced to abandon it, and work at the trades to which they were brought up. We have no doubt that those kmd-hearted men who fancy they see in capitalists the enemies of the working classes would, without explaining these facts, at once say “ stop immigration, for we want no reduction of wages.” If they were

told that to stop immigration is the way to reduce wages they would fancy the man who said so was either a fool or a rogue. They would tell him it stood to reason and common sense, that to bring an unlimited number of Workmen to do a limited quantity of 'work must reduce wages. Precisely so; nothing can be plainer. It may, however, not be quite so plain that “the limited quantity of work ” would be the consequence of cessation of immigration ; but it is equally true with the other. Railways have provided work for thousands, but the tens of thousands who have come into the country have been the true employers of labor. For them the streets of cottages have been built that have converted villages into wellpeopled towns, hamlets inter villages, and for them thousands of acres have been ploughed and wastes transformed into

cornnems. as most prooaoiy we are fast building shelter for all who need it, if no newcomers arrive, we shall soon reach the limit of demand for houses ; and bricklayers, masons, and carpenters will be short of employment. As our harvests are, we suppose, equal to providing food for all, we maj consider that we have now broken up, fenced, and brought under crop as much land as is necessary; so, if no newcomers arrive, we have reached the limit of agricultural extension, and those who have been employed in breaking up fresh ground will be available for ordinary farm work. There will then be competition for employment, and we all know the result of that. And we might examine the condition of every trade and arrive at a like conclusion. If we cease to bring in immigrants, the Public Works scheme will be strangled. Its very basis is

the increased capability of sustaining a larger population in comfort and independence than could have subsisted apart from multiplying facilities for internal traffic. To prevent their coming would be to burden ‘ourselves with taxation, to limit our trade, to reduce wages, and to produce the very evils that our short-sighted correspondents appear to fear. This has been the result wherever so suicidal a step has been taken. Before public works and immigration were initiated, the population was small, work limited, wages depressed, and workmen complaining; and it is to a like condition, with increased population, that our correspondents would unwittingly reduce the country. A little investigation and reflection would show them the shortsightedness of what they advocate. With every intention to do good, they are the true enemies of the working classes.

In Christchurch, the parents of a boy placed him upon the top of a load of shingle, and by some means he fell off, when the dray wheel passed over his head, killing him in* stantaneously. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”

The cricket, match, Palmerston v. Citizens, resulted in a victory for the latter, who were victorious by four wickets. When we went to press yesterday the Citizens had just commenced their second innings. They put together 77, of which Morrison, made 19 and Fagan 13. Palmerston’s principal scorers in the second innings were Wilson 25 (not out) and Dayis 14. Mellis, one of the Palmerston eleven, was much hurt when jumping the oval fence. He was attended to by Dr Renner, and it. is expected that a fortnight" will elapse before he can recover. In the evening the visitors were entertained' at the Pier Hotel, where a very enjoyable evening wasspent in toaating-making and singing. Mr Morrison, as highest scorer in the

Citizens’ team, was the recipient of a bat. Should any “Benedict” hold the following to be of a libellous* nature, we may mention that a northern contemporary is respon sible. It says that on a Saturday mght recently, in a town not a hundred miles from New Plymouth, four men were enjoying a game of billiards. About half-past eleven o’clock a boy poked his head in the billiardroom, and said; “ There is a woman out here who wants to know if Mr —— is in here.” The men didn’t exactly catch what the name was, but three of them got out of a side door as suddenly as though a ghost had entered thejroom. There •is nothing very singular about this, only that the oneleft was a single man, who is anxious to know when the three will meet again to decide who is to pay for the board, which they unfortunately forgot in their hurry. Messrs Fish and Mollison sat at the City

Police Court this morning, and disposed of several cases of drunkenness. Fredk. S. Morris, Richard Ridley, Chas. M‘Donald, Alex. Main, John Beaton, and Edward Scott were each fined ss, in default twentyfour hours’ imprisonment; John Brady, 40s or three days’. Mary Ryan was brought up on remand and charged with having caused through wilful neglect the death of her in r fant male child; ten months old. Inspector Mallard stated the result of the Coroner’s inquest, and asked leave to withdraw the charge, which was accordingly done. Wmi M'Ghee, a young man, was charged by Messrs W. and J. Scoular with forging and uttering a cheque for 1A 10s on March 13, with intent to defraud, was remanded till Tuesday. A cablegram last .evening from Sydney announced the death in Melbourne yester-

day of Mr Alfred Anderson, Mdle. De Murska’s husband. This intelligence, though sudden, was not unexpected, inasmuch as Mr Medcalfe had received a letter a short time previously to the effect that his death might be expected at any moment, though he might linger on for a few days beyond the date of the letter. The disease from which he was suffering was fatty degeneration of the heart, with dropsy supervening, aad little hope was held out that ne could ever recover. We leam that Mdle. De Murska herself has also been ill—so ill, indeed, as to incapacitate her from appearing for two evenings in opera. It is, of course, premature just now to surmise where her next movement will be to, but we cannot help hoping that after a reasonable time has elapsed she will fulfil her promise to New Zealand.

The Boss, Inverness, Argyle, and Bate Bute Association celebrated their first anniversary by a reunion in the Temperance Hall last night. Considering the extremely boisterous state of the weather there was afair attendance. The chair was occupied by Mr J. L. Gillies, who, in a shart speech, explained the objects of the Association, which, were not clannish, but to give the right hand of fellowship to all who deserved it. It welcomed arrivals in the Colony from the connties named, gave them assistance if necessary, and encouraged the cultivation of the Gaelic language. The present membership was 57, and the Association possessed a credit balance of L2l. Addresses were delivered by Dr Stuart and Mr Cameron (the latter speaking in Gaelic); Messrs Finlayson and Mackay played on the bagpipes; there was a good deal of music, Miss Annie Beaumont securing hearty applause for her songs ; and Mr Spiers danced m Highland costume. After a somewhat lengthy programme had been gone through, the room was cleared for dancing.

In discussing at a public meeting the opening of the Invercargill Athenaeum on Sundays, one of the speakers of a philosophical turn of mind is reported by the * Southland News ’ to have said:—“ That he saw in this

meeting one of the fundamental laws of God carried out—that opposition of forces produced reaction, and reaction invigorated and produced new life and further progressive development; while, on the contrary, if the same properties and forces met their effect, was inertia, stagnation, and even death. He would be the last, to throw any obstacle in the way of any man getting his living, provided .he was doing so for the best interest of mankind, and to the full extent of his abilities. It was a notorious fact that one-third of the people of the globe, say 400 millions.

died before their time through ignorance, not knowing how to treat themselves when they are first taken ill. One simple rule was to keep the stomach clean and the blood pore, and they would live till they died exhausted by old age. Every opportunity should be offered to the poorer classes to educate themselves, and opening the institution on Sundays would be a step in the right direction.” Another speaker is reported to have said that “the Sunday schools connected with the various towns and libraries, the issuing of books from which entailed more labor on those who assisted than could possibly accrue from throwing open the AthenSeum reading room. The beneficial influence he had seen result from the excellent system of the Sunday schools had strongly influenced his action in endeavoring to extend the same advantages to adults. He felt satisfied that the books in the* Athenaeum were as carefully chosen as those issued from the Sunday schools.”