Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1893. An Important Question.

Manawatu Herald, 20 July 1893, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1893. An Important Question.

—-♦ ■ :■.. i Mn W. Hutchison drew the Hob. \\. P. Beeves attention to the action of Judge Ward at Dunedin lately, when he refused a discharge to a debtor. It appears that a James Houston got into a firm's debt for goods and when they obtained judgment against him, became bankrupt. When the creditors were endeavouring to get paid, they proved that Houston was offered work at eight shillings a day but refused to take it. Judge Ward, to mark his disapprobation of the debtor's conduct refused to grant his discharge. The excuse offered by Houston was that he could not work at eight shillings a day as the union rate of wages were ten shillings a day. This is such a free and easy country that no one need raise any objection to a man receiving all he can possibly get, but when he asserts his royal position he should see that he owes no man anything. It is more than an absurdity for any person to calmly incur debts and then call upon the creditor to provide him %ith work at the rate of wages the debtor chooses to establish. The case seems so plain to ordinarily honest persons that it would not seem worth discussing did we not find that the Hon W. P. Reeves said " that as a member of the House he was surprised at the line of reasoning laid down by the Judge, and did not agree with it." Mr Eeeves is the Minister for Labour and is surprised that a Judge can so far have forgot himself as to rebuke a very reckless and careless working-man. Mr Reeves pays the working men of the colony the poor compliment that the action of James Houston has nothing peculiar in it, and thinks they would gladly seize the flimsiest excuses for refusing to pay their just debts. It is unfortunate that he should thinkso and should say so. There ig another view to take of Houston's action, which unless discouraged will revert very unfortunately upon tho3e who would be desirous of repaying debts they were conveniently permitted to incur, and that is, traders will view with the greatest suspicion any person con nected with a Trade Union. If the suggestion of Mr Hutchison is ; to be acoepted, Trade Unions do not mind how far into debt any of their members run, do not care if $hose debts are ever paid so long" as! the member will undertake no labour j except at the rate fixed by them, j We doubt very much whether the ] Union Houston belongs to would j really view the matter in this light, i as they must see how such conduct I becomes a reproach to Unionism. I If we apprehend correctly, the union j desires to keep the rate of wages of each particular handicraft up at a ;i fixed price, but they would not ! object to that member using- his. strength in ordinary labour at the [ usual market rates. Thus it would , : appear possible that Houston j firm ' believer to Trade Unionism that he j is, might have gone to some other ■ work, perhaps not so profitable, but ■ far better than idlying about doing nothing, and have considerably ro° duced the amount of the debt. Because he preferred idlying and clearing his path by becoming a bankrupt, the Judge • reproved him by suspending his discharge. The discussion has only brought the facts under notice and the peculiar opinions of Messrs Hutchison and Reeves. It was ushered into the House as being a question relating to the " status" of Labour Unions. If Unions are to be given the power to direct no member to work at his own particular calling for less than a certain sum per day and not to endeavour to obtain any other class of labour it will be noticed that we are drifting to a ,very perilous state of affairs. The question wholly hinges upon this ; point, for the Judge should not be criticised, unless, as the tvvo members we have quoted said, he was wrong in thinking Houston should have taken any work offered him at a fair price. Such theories carried into practice would mean a considerable addition to the Charitable Aid rates during a hir&winfceriT. ; : We trust there-will be more said upon the question.

There was muoh merriment in -the town on Tuesday night. At the Hall a dance was held, and was attended by from thirty to forty couples. A most enjoyable even* ; ing was spent, the dancing having been continued till past four in the morning. Messrs Ennis and Keen supplied the music (piano and cornet), and Mv .Walls the supper. Both music and supper Wen much appreciated. Mr Walls also made, an efficient M.C. ' ■ j..^ Mr and Mrs A. S. Easton had a most pleasant gathering on Tuesday evening at their residence, when the young people passed the time in dancing, and^the.ejd/rs in singing. It was primarily arraiige^ftg a parting compliment to Misr Ballantine, who has made herself extremely popular with ' everyone. It is needless Jo. say, that the guests thoroughly enjoyed' themselves. The Queensland Estimates have been reduced by £300,000 as compared with the previous year. This will necwsitajie the dismissal of 600 Civil servants. The reduction is specially prominent in the Defence Department, and one or two corps ■ iira to be dispensed with Altogether.

>F t-^ r rr rr : The contractors for the alterations to Aberdeen House have made a start and have lowered the floor in the portion that was formerly the shop. It is curious how dates clash, as it appears that besides the dance at the Hall, and the private dance held on Tuesday night, Mr Hamer had a gathering of young people at his house on the aatne night. It -TrottM-seenr ar- though -some" power - "hud * willed that everybody should be dancing on the.FJivnp night of the 18th . Those who wint to .Mi' KaiiK-.'s hud a very pleasant evening. Wo are very glad to learn from Mr Wilson, the manager -of the Motoa estate, that his losses from the flood were remarkably small 'considering the very large area that had to lie nuisUrcd over iv such a short tiuip. The Wissps are twenty beasts and nndiT one'lmndrud sheep. Miss Josephine Ray has passed into the third class of pupil teachers at the last examination. A proclamation has been issued by the Victorian Government, removing the obstacles to the importation of New Zealand sheep, and declaring that the Colony is free from: scab. ■ Everyone will bo busy this month' as there are many public. meetings to attend. In a few days, notices of the annual meetings of the Kacing Club, the Bowing Club, and the Lawn Tennis Club will appear.' .All these are decided acquisitions to the town, and. much interest is felt to know how they stand financially. Mr. Whibley.has a stack of red clover hay for sale cheap. This should meet with ready sale at this time of year. : On our third page will be found the balance-sheet of the Borough. We trust not only Councillors, but ratepayers will peruse it as it tells a tale of work done and care taken, which h a very creditable record for all concerned! On one point especial oredit i 3 due to the Town Clerk, and that is the remarkable small amount of outstanding rates. The late Managing-Director of the N.Z. ■Tlmat is also Minister of Education.' In his report to Parliament he instances the case of a native who published a pamphlet in whiek " with vigorous declamation " he made charges that tho teachers set a bad example in matters of health, morality, and religion, which he declined to substantiate, lhe Minister looks npen this as an example of ''the efficiency of instruction provided for young people of the Maori race. " By whom. The police, acting no doubt on the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown, says the Post, have decided to press the charge of murder against Louis Sanderson before the liesident Magistrate, notwithstanding the verdicV of Justifiable Homicide returned in regard to the killing of Spreat. The Pout the other day said : — We notice that Dr Lemon thinks his telephones in Dunedin in clanger from the adoption of electricity as a motive power on the tramways there. The danger is probably as reul as that feared to the cable from the Wellington sewage. Has Dr Lemon an electrical mouopoly iv the colony? He seems to think so. We have always understood electricity to be a distinctly progressive science, but Dr Lemon seems bent on applying it to obstructive purposes. We expect soon to hear of his inducing Mr Ward to bring in: a Bill to forbid thunder* storms, and render lightning subject to penal servitude. There is no sentiment in the mind of the Jfe^gij^artd/faflher.', lie , is sometime^jflinbHt ridiculously .stolid.' To an j old accjuaiutanoe who had come to condole j with him on the f&ot that his two sons had I been sent to prison for burglary, the father ! said, i (t Well, it's pretty rough on me to i have them both go at once, but there is one I thing to it — when it comes night now, we i know where them boys be." I In the JHouse of Commons, My Gladstone, in moving that an address be pre- | sented to the Queen, in reply to her letter 1 on the occasion of the marriage of the Duke of York, said that the .interest in her reign had* never bpen warmer. 'Recalling the death of tlie Duke of Clarence, he said that the sad event had raised additional warmth towards the Prince of Wales. They were all actuated by feelings of love for Princess May— a statement which was received with cheers — while the Duke of York was looked upon as singularly frank and genial. Mr .fas. Mills, manager of the U.S.S. Company, when interviewed by a represen ■ tativo of the press in Dunedin, with reference ;to thr« shipping 3trike; saidvthat whilo theoourf&ofjßiOtibnjhad not' bee)v decided on, the company wilt probably ask the men to submit to some reduction, probably of the £1 a month given some years ago. It is not intended to take the men by surprise, but to give fair notice. The step will be taken only if the state of business renders it absolutely necessary, and the company will .expect their employees in other branches also to accept a reduction. Mr Mills hope* that when the time comes the men will fall in with their views, and the company will make it understood that they intend to be fair, and not take advantage of the opening afforded by the sweeping reductions in Australia; .••..• '' • '