Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1903. THE INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK.

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 January 1903, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1903. THE INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK.

The industrial outlook in New Zealand on the surface appears bright and clear; yet to those who look a little deeper, it is clouded and doubtful. In one respect we have never had a stronger flow of apparent prosperity than at present. From another point of view, we have never been so near the edge of an industrial precipice over which we may tumble at any moment. It may read as a paradox to say so, but it is nevertheless a reality—so real as to call for serious sober reflection In this colony we have departed very widely from the guiding lines laid down by economists of older lands. We are not prepared to say that that departure has been for evil, indeed we hope and trust it has been for good. But the ultimate result no one can actually fortell, The State has meddled in many of the avenues .of life that in the past were held to belong to

individuals ; it has to some extent entered into competition iu the larger, shall we say wholesale, lines; and it is an easy grade to follow into the smaller, the retail, and details, and in fact attempt to bring about a condition of affairs somewhat akin, but never so perfect nor so satisfactory as that claimed by Bellamy in "Looking Backwards." In ' New Zealand we began by protecting the working-man, by making his position a bettor and more endurable one. The initial effort was a necessary, a wise and good one. But we did not halt there ; the stage coach had got a start and could not be easily stopped. Further demands followed and were conceded. These further concessions were followed by still farther demands and again conceded. Individualism beoame threatened ; indeed is so at the present time; and industry became to be regarded as a doubtful virtue. Our labor laws confine industry within eight houis, beyond that time it is no virtue, but an nine headed hydra, dangerous alike to the individual and the State, and, therefore, a crime and

abomination that must be put down with a firm hand and iron heel. That eight hours of labor is ample for man is conceded by most liberal and advanced thinkers, but others hold that it is not right to prevent a man working longer if he so desires, and is paid accordingly. Yet the trend of legislation in this colony is against such permission being given. To-day the wages in the colony are better and the hours of toil less than a decade ago. And this is right and pleasing. But while we have been attending to this point, have we not allowed a condition of affairs to gradually work up that not only neutralises all the benefits of a higher wage and shorter hours, but has made the position worse than before ? It is just here that the danger lies—a danger that many bring about a crisis involving depression and worse than depression. Everything in the colony has become inflated ; land is at a falabous value, while the commodities of every day life are at famine prices ; this too in a

land of p'enty; in a land having a soil, climate and natural advantages possessed by few countries. The purchasing value of twenty shillings is today about equal to that of twelve shillings ten years ago, and so it happens that though wages may have gone up a little, the price of food and clothing has gone up a great deal more in proportion to wages, and the position is," therefore, no better than before. Syndicates and combines have been allowed to flourish and exploit the reople'spocket by raising the price of all commodities, and especially the produce of the land, such as flour, potatoes, etc. Now the pecularity of the rise in produce is the fact that farm laborers have not been brought under the labor laws of the colony and can, therefore, be sweated as much as ever,-while " their masters" aided by

financial rings have risen the "price of their products enormously. This matter has been brought under the notice of the Government by various labor organisations, but so far no action has been taken. A strange anomally then exists in regard to our labor laws that tends towards a complication ; and which, moveover, cannot be defended by any fair minds. It is the refusal of Government and Parliament to make the laws in force in New Zealand applicable to Government servants and laborers. Hence, we find Government employees here and elsewhere working for 2s per day les3 than the same class of work is paid for by firms and contractors in the same localities. Such a condition of affairs is unjust, and one that may at any time lead to what the Government claim is now impossible—a strike. If the Government employees cannot take advantage of the labor laws in the colony, and cannot avail themselves of the Arbitration Court, they are in the same position as trade societies stood in prior to Jabor legislation, and would, as an extreme step, have to strike in order to secure equal pay with other workmen for like work. The Government in refusing to place its own workmen on the same level with others show a fear and dread of the Arbitration Court that is strangely inconsistent with the legislation of the country, If the Government fear to trust the Arbitrution Court in a matter in dispute between itself and its workmen, then it is unfair to compel others to submit to such tribunal. This is a matter that should be dealt with. The laws of the land should apply equally to all. Yet another feature of the Government policy that requires amendment is the excessive Customs duties imposed. Year by year we come out with a surplus of half-a-million. This simply means that Parliament is imposing more taxation upon the] people than is required, and is thereby aiding in keeping up the now exorbitant price of food and clothing. It is a most remarkable fact, and one that should be pondered over—that while the various Stateß in Australia have had to struggle against several very bad seasons, have had depression on all sides, and the extra expense of introdusing the Federal System of Government, the taxation per head is less than in New Zealand, which has enjoyed a full flow of prosperity, bountiful harvests, and an excellent market for all its products. Surely this cannot continue. It is hoped that the coming session of Parliament will deal with the questions referred to, for they are matters that Yery vitally concern the future welbeing of the colony.