Correspondence

Feilding Star, 24 June 1893, Page 2

Correspondence

■ ; ST#KEaf #'. v j| \ MTHB KDITOR OP ThM STAR. '% Sib, — In writing upon (be abovt sub- \ ject, I find it necessary to repeat the oft ' quoted sentence, that the labour markets * (and wage rate) are ruled by demand and j supply, that the effect of that supply ex- \ tends all over the civilized world through ' the attraction of public works and other ' causes, also that labor and capital are de- ' pendent on each other. As this is the } case it is not only the duty but the interest ' of the capitalist to encourage labor by { undertaking difficult worju and in eoja? J peting with other nations, as it is also to j the workmen to encourage the investment of capital to the utmost extent. That the ( capitalists (as a body) attempt to become ' rich through inaufficiant wa«aa and long ; : hours of the working man is untrue, but ' it ia in that light that unscrupulous leaders and sympathising politicians would gull ' the working man to view the question. There are many capitalists in England I and the Cotoniea who are willing to give a fair wage for a fair day's work, and there are many also who undertake difficult pnblio worka not being sure to start with whether they will obtain a fair margin of profit to themselves after paying for labor and other expenses. History will go to prove that whan tb* working men are fully employed and earning remunerative i wages, that all classes (except the grasping monopolist)! are benefited thereby, and tha causes of this are not far to seek, namely, that fewer persons are thrown upon public charity, and also that necessary class to support thriving inland towns, the small farmers in most eases risen from the ranks of the working men. I dont think anyone will dispute this. Now I would ask the question : Has the labor strikes that have taken place in England and the colonies ot late years improved tha working mans condition or inereaeed bjf earnings? Reason would anewtr certainly not, but the reverse. In thia war batwejo labor and capital millions of puhlio and private money have been wasted or tastW labor in England and America. In thia conflict the case of the workmen is a hopeless one, and although it may mean stagnation to the capitalist, yet in many cases he can live on ft email pareantage of interest npoa his capital, hot t»the working man it means eating up both capital and interest and starvation. No one will ever know the full amount of misery and destitution that have followed illadvised strikes, because no one cares to be blamed for a condition brought on by his own doings or by being led astray by unprincipled leaders, or the sympathatic selfaeeking politician that he has had faith in. Candidates, for political purposes have pandered to and intensetied the local prejudice* and dislikes of the working man, instead of appealing to his reason, and inducing him to take a wide and enlightened view of his condition, and in the foregoing state of affairs, the term liberal has bad an attractive influence in favour of the schemer and would be leader of tba masses, and has also acted like a charm to (delude the working man. The action on tbe part of the present Liberal Government in giving work to the unemployed Who congregate about the cities at a high rate of wages, besides being unfair to other workmen, is like applying a counter irritant to tbe irritated part or sore, inasmuch as that action has attracted numbers of men without means from tbe Australian Colonies, and those men have been forwarded to various parts by the much boasted and flattered Labor bureau to fill np all vacancies to the detriment of the local unemployed, or those only working half time throngout the country. I will continue this subject in my next letter. I am, etc. A. Colonist. Feildiog, Jnne 21st. 1893.