THE PELORUS GUARDIAN TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1890. INDIVIDUALISM OR NATIONALISM?

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume I, Issue 23, 15 April 1890, Page 2

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1890. INDIVIDUALISM OR NATIONALISM?

Horace Greely, in his work on "Political Economy," predicted that co-operation would be the ruling element in our social system, and would play a great part in the amelioration of the condition of the great mass of the people. Whether it has come about in the exact form as he predated is a matter of little moment, but that it has come about there is no question. Since the success of the dock labourers strike in London a change of such a sudden character has taken place with regard to the relations between labour and capital that would not have been credited a few years ago. This co-operative or union element has taken such a hold of the labouring classes that it is impossible to foreshadow how it will affect in the no distant future the relations between labour and capital. Whether it will not have the . effect of labour being amalgamated with capital, so that the antagonism between the two in the past may be lost to view in the future, and the two brought, to a certain extent, on an equality. This, idea, of course, has been carried out for many years .in some large firms by allowing the employees a certain percentage on the profits,'but not to that extent, it may possibly be carried out in time to come. It is a hard matter, however, to foresee how the present labour agitation will end, and what" phase it will assume as time goes on. Let us take .an example of what might happen if the union lever were used to its utmost power. There are estimated to be 800,000 colliers in England, and on the output of coal depends nearly the whole of England's commerce. Suppose, then, that these 800,000 colliers, assisted by other unions, resolved to strike even for a fortnight. It is impossible to estimate the amount of inconvenience, loss, and privation, such a strike would entail on the whole community; in fact, the whole commerce of England would be suspended, and we all know what that would mean. These men have only to sit down and smoke their pipes, and they could inflict more damage than if they engaged in a civil war. Such being the case, is it not possible that State interference would require to be called in, and so take the first step, or, in other words, lay the foundation stone in the work of building up a system of nationalism ? The question is whether we have not come to the end of fiidjvjdualism, which is such a strong trait in the Teutonic race, and

the sinking of our individuality in the common cause of placing ourselves in our social and economic relations on an equal footing. Whether such a Course will* prove beneficial or otherwise we are not going to offer an opinion, but we are inclined to believe that the change is the outcome of the working of a natural law, and that the jarring in the social machinery caused by the hard fight for the survival of the fittest will work more smoothly, and the grasping element in our nature so largely developed in such a struggle > will become inactive. Many have been the schemes laid down for the bettering of the human race, and one of the latest works in that direction is a book called " Looking Backwards." The writer of this book pictures a state of society in which everything is national, and the individual element takes no part so far as each person having to provide for himself is concerned. It would be a difficult matter to explain the scheme set forth in a few words, but to give some idea to those' who have not read the work in question we may say that a state of society is shaddowed forth in which the State has charge of everything.; Everybody works for the State, and one and all are placed on an equal footing, with regard to education and everything else. The labourer gets exactly the same amount of goods or credit from the State as the doctor, and his social position is exactly the same, the only difference between the two is in their occupations. We notice from late papers that this idea is taking a great hold of the Americans, and societies to further this scheme of nationalisation are being formed in many parts of America. In this and other countries the education system has been taken charge of by the State, and up to a certain standard our children are placed on equal terms in this important matter. Then we have Henry George advocating land nationalisation and a single-tax, and he has many adherents to his cause. And last, but most prominent of all, we have trades-unionism, which, when properly developed, will assume such proportions of strength as may change the whole course of events in such a manner as is little dreamt of at the present time. At all events, the above are all links in the chain of nationalism, or the sinking of individuality for the common good. To resist the current setting in in that direction would seem to be hopeless, and the only thing is to so direct its course in that channel where the most good is likely to result, and where all will benefit in the change which is taking place.

PROSPECTING ASSOCIATION.

Those who attended the general meeting of the above on Friday evening are to be congratulated on the comprehensive scheme which it is proposed to carry out. We feel sure it'will'not only meet with the general approval of the people of this district, but also of those resident elsewhere, and should receive a large amount of support. All those who contribute will be acknowledged as a shareholder in any company formed after the discovery of gold, to the full amount of their contributions, and prospecting can be carried oh throughout the district in a thorough manner. As Mr Nelson pointed out, that by only having a small amount it would soon dwindle away, and no good would result. He also very forcibly pointed to the fact that the Golden Bar had been discovered fourteen years, and it was only just now being worked, but if a little energy and public spirit had been displayed in the first instance Havelock might have been-acityby this time. We may not go so far as Mr Nelson in saying Havelock would have been a city, but of this we feel quite convinced it would have been twice its present size, and all holders of property in the neighbourhood would possibly have had it doubled in value. This being the case, it is to be hoped those who have the most to gain will display that interest in the present scheme as will ensure its success. People who are thoroughly conversant with gold-min-ing, and who have visited the Wakamarina, are astonished that more has not been done in working the reefs in that part of the district. It can also be said with equal truth that not half enough interest has bean taken in prospecting for the precious metal which everyone admits lies hidden in this part of the country. Now that a scheme has been adopted which should meet with the approval of everyone, there can be no excuse for further delay in accomplishing the end in view by one and all giving a hearty support to the Marlborough Mineral Prospecting Association.

TRACK TO WAIKAKAHO.

We should like to point out to the Pelorus Road Board the necessity for opening a bridle track from the Okaramio Valley to Waikakaho. >everal miners have urged us to ventilate this matter, and, say, twenty minutes walk from the Kaituna side, will take a person to the top of the saddle, and about the same time to the flat in Waikakaho, where very little is

required to be done from there to the site selected by Messrs Liogan & Co. to erect their battery. Besides being a direct convenience for those miners who reside in Havelock, it would further induce prospecting in that locality, and everything which tends to assist the miner in that direction is a positive gain to the district. We understand that Mr Tee, the Inspector, has already reported to the Board on its practicability, and as the cost will not be great, while a saving of fifteen miles' travelling will be effected, we hope the members will decide at their next meeting to place it on the list of works to be completed at an early date.

ALFRED CREEK.

Year after year rolls on, and in spiteof all that has been said, the Government seem to wilfully overlook the necessity for a bridge over the Alfred Creek, in the Rai Valley. When Mr John Ballance was Minister of Lands, • and went through from Havelock to Nelson, in company with Mr McKerrow, the Surveyor-General, they both ; saw the necessity of bridging this mountain torrent. Again, when His Excellency Lord Onslow paid the district a visit, he nearly lost his life in this treacherous creek, which rises so rapidly, and it was then understood the work would be undertaken immediately; but months pass away, and we presume nothing will be done until some fatal accident occurs, which was very nearly the case on Saturday, when Messrs Newman Bros, mail coach crossed, coming from Nelson. The driver had no idea it was so deep, but when in the middle the water was running up to his waist, when he was sitting on the box,: and it was only by the extra exertions of good horses they were not all swept down into the Rai River and drowned.—A sulky and buggy with other travellers had to go right back to Oliver's, about ten miles, or camp out in the rain. Now that we have quite five times as many travellers through this district as heretofore, and remembering it is a part of the main road through the Island, we trust those in authority will not neglect the repeated warnings given, but provide a remedy before it is too late for some unfortu-nate-person,