Two Sides to the Question.

Manawatu Herald, 21 March 1893, Page 2

Two Sides to the Question.

Ma -torn* BmiNS, one of the working men M.'sP. bus been urging a reform m the labour laws by an eight hours law and no overtime, by municipal labour, by establishing labour bureaus, anil by relief eortttHitWes. As tiies'e suggestions are so much on the same lines as the present Government have already legislated upon, it becomes very apropos to produce Mr Stead's remarks on the paper : - Two observations will naturally occur to feVeiy readeft The first is that at least one half of the fund which Mr Curbs proposes should be secured M the payment of wages to the unemployed would be raised by docking the already employed of the extra earnings which they make by overtiniei This may be right otf it may be wrong. But whether right or wrong, it is not , likely to be very popular with those who are going to lose their overtime money. Secondly, when everyttiitig is done that Mr Burns proposes there will still be the increa.se of population to be deal!; With, aiid how it is to be faced excepting by such schemes as labonr settlements, farm colonies at home and abroad, and the like, which he brands as " social will-o' the-wisps," we do not know, and Mr Burns does riot tells ite; lMie question 'of dealing with the ever increasing population o? the world is one of grave importance, but it is, because it is so, most necessary that every point should be considered. It is impossible to increase the opportunities of those desiring work in the 0 d Country* as there are too many there already, to iiialie an opportunity is merely helping one by harming another. A stream of poor people diverted to this colony would mean reducing wages which, though probably good for all in the long run, would be exceedingly distasteful at present. It appears, however, to be the only means that looks practical to English eyes.