Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1922, Page 2

The subject just touched upon is of vital interest to New Zealand, where, as elsewhere, the economic law governs the position finally. In pursuing the subject further, the American writer goes on to say that the law of supply and demand aided the wage-ear-ners to get the wage advances made since 1914. It is impartial in its operations and irresistible in its rulings. ' Employers are no better able to defeat it than wage-earners. Early in this depression it was said that the price of iron and steel was so completely controlled that the industry was ini mime from extreme fluctuations and yet prices of iron and steel products oil an average have • fallen next to the products of agriculture, and when out- of pocket costs are considered scarcely less than those. The greatest gains- to the wageearning class have always come, in obedience to the law of supply and demand, when business was prosperous, capital was earning good returns and the accumulations were being invested in the enlargement of industrial works, thus creating new demands for labor. It ia impossible for an industry to grow and attract labor to it without increasing wagos. The automobile industry has been an example of one that lias grown rapidly, and in order to supply itself with labor lias been obliged to pay above other industries. It never has been a unionized industry. Individual employers might like to reduce wages, but anything like a general conspiracy to reduce wages for the phrpos© of increasing profits would be defeated by the very fact that profits were increasing. The competition of employers to enlarge their operations and employ their new capital would induce them to bid for labor. Not a dollar of the new capital could be put to any use without employing labor. Wage advances inevitably accompany capital accumulations, and on the other hand the greatest hardships to labor experienced when capital is suffering losses, or where, as in Russia the owners of capital looted and industry is disor ganised and prostrate. All schemes for arbitrarily increasing wage-rates c°me to nothing when there is no demand for labor.

House of Lords reform is again on the tapis at Home. The admission by the Conservative party leader in the Commons (Mr Austen Chamberlain) that the matter was the only outstanding question in British Home politics, suggests that the whole subject will come up for review in the not distant future. At one time it was a pet portion of Mr Lloydi George's policy, but other more engrossing matter came to the surface and had to take precedence over all questions of domestic policy. Mr Austen Chamberlain, though with the Conservative party, holds very liberal views on the matter. Speaking quite recently at Glasgow he said that he admitted that differences of opinion existed concerning the reform of the House of Lords, hut these were not on party lines. Unionists and Coalition Liberals were agreed that the constitution of the House of Lords should be altered, its powers revised and its relations with the House of Commons read- .

justed. None desired to create a second Chamber, which would prevent the people’s will being expressed, hut before the Chamber yielded it must be sure the people’s will was being expressed, and not the political bargain of groups. It is clear therefore that the partyleaders at Homo have a tacit understanding and it is the desire, evidently, to treat the matter as Mr Chamberlain said at the Primerose League meeting j last week” in a broad spirit,” and he j went on to say that he 1 saw no difficulty in settling it on a sound constitutional basis in agreement with the Liberal allies in the Coalition.” Reform of the English House of Lords is long overdue, a*id the same applies to the reform of the Upper House in this Dominion. The task was one of the planks in Mr Massey’s platform when first gaining power, but beyond passing a measure which he never attempted to enforce,' the question has been dormant. Here as at Home larger questions obtruded, but the air being clearer now the matter will crop up again, and by the time next election comes round the 'question is sure to occupy a prominent place in the party platforms.

The Westland Chamber of Commerce will meet to-night a 7.30 o’clock at the County Chambers.

The Hokitika Beautifying Association will hold a. meeting at the Town Hall to-morrow night at 7.30 o’clock.

Addisons announce bargains in all departments at their end of season sale which is now on, and cordially invite vour inspection. Remember the early buyer receives the pick of the bargains.

The completed plans and specifications for the new building scheme at Westland Hospital have been received from the Public Health Department and tenders returnable early in April are to be invited forthwith.

A meeting of lady •supporters of the Hokitika Bowling Club met last evening, Mrs Galbraith presiding, when arrangements were put in train for the provision of refreshments for the players during the Bowling Tournament, which commences on Tuesday next and continues over the following two days.

The programme of the Watar<>a-Wai-tangi Racing Club’s meeting to be held at Wataroa on Thursday February 23rd is published in this issue. Particulars as to the receipt of nominations and acceptances appear therein. The principal race, the W ataroa Handicap is endowed with £6O prize money.

Rev. Dr J. E. Holloway, D. Sc., has been appointed vicar of Lccston in succession to Rev H. C. Hanby, who lias assumed tho editorial control of the “Church News.” Dr Holloway received his early education from Nelson College, graduating from the Auckland University. He lately retired from the position of Vicar of Hokitika on account of ill health. He is recognised as one of the most learned scientists it New Zealand.

There was a brief discussion at the meeting of the School Committee last evening over the date originally fixed for the holding of the school excursion, some members thinking it had been arranged for the Wednesday, after the opening of the school, while the Secretary averred it was for the 15th as arranged. The matter was allowed to drop after regret had been expressed that the excursion clashed with the bowling tournament •

An inquest was held at Te Kinga. on Sunday by the Coroner (Mr W. Meldrum S.M.) into the circumstances surrounding the death of Steve Bopich a bushman, married, aged 35 years. The evidence showed that deceased was following lfis occupation as a bushman at Manson’s Siding, Te Kinga. In company with other bushmen named Sheedy, Olsen and Pugh, dec-eased commenced work at 7 a.m. on Saturday. About 9 a.m. Sheedy and Olsen left a tree partly cut to go and assist the deceased to drag out a tree. When they had been assisting deceased for about fifteen minutes a gust of wind brought dowiV the tree that Sheedy and Olsen had left half-cut. Tho tree fell at right angles to the bushmen, and when falling struck a birch limb' and drove it direct on to the bushmen, striking deceased on the forehead and killing him instantly. He was at once picked up, hut life was extinct. The body was conveyed to deceased’s residence, The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death.

At the invitation of the Deputy Mayor (Mr H .M. Coulson) in the place of the Mayor absent in Christchurch, a meeting of representatives of the local bodies and Returned Soldiers’ Association was held at the Town Clerk’s Office yesterday afternoon- in reference to tie visit of General Russell and party on Friday. It was announced the General’s party would arrive by motor car at G o’clock in the evening and stay at Keller’s hotel. It was resolved to held a civic reception at the Town Hall at 7.30 o’clock, and a public address will be given by General Sir Andrew Russell, K.O.M.G. at 8 o’clock in regard to the Returned Soldiers’ movement, the General being the Dominion President of the organisation. The Revd. Walker and Mr Leadley,' President and Secretary of the Canterbury branch of the R.S.A. and Mr Knight of the Dominion Executive, will be prevent also. The .subsequent entertri"ment of the visitors will be in the hands of the local Returned Soldiers’ Association, and will include a. visit to Lake Kanieri on Saturday forenoon. The Town Rand has been asked to assist at Friday night’s function, and no doubt there will be a large attendance of the public to honor General Russell who commanded the N.Z. Division in the battle line. ,