Labour and Capital.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 63, 2 September 1890, Page 2

Labour and Capital.

Iy wished • to have a practical 'le&oij'ag to tfye relativeyahjeof labbixr ; ancT;'capital, .they could not better one than that present labour (difficulty.,. A few th'ou--Baad 4 nfien stpp work for a short time, '■ it

and the ordinary necessaries of life- at once run short, and everything ia thrown into a state of confusion. The fact is, labour, and not capital, is the essential requisite to keep things going in regular order, and therefore labour should be properly rewarded; if it is not there must be an injustice somewhere. But while we agree %itfr labour asserting its rights we . have always been of the opinion that there was an unnecessary waste of time and money in the matter of strikes, and think the difficulty could be more easily overcome in another way. The actual money and the capital represented by time over the present strike would be sufficient to have started a steam service or bought such an interest in one or two that would have given- labour a big income and a big interest which it would have been impossible for capital to have overcome: If such a course were followed' instead of absolutely wasting time and money in such a conflict which is now taking place labour would still-have its. labour and would also have capital, which would necessarily be followed by a division of profits on the sha're-and-share-alike principle. However, we are inclined to agree with England's greatest poet, when he says, " Beware of entrance to a quarrel; but being in bear it that the opposed may beware of thee." • The labour party have entered into the quarrel, and their cause depends on the way in which _ they conduct their fight to score a victory or an honourable xetreat. i

The Pulpit. We do not know that there ever was'a time when ministers of the gospel took so much interest and spoke with so much earnestness from the 'pulpit as ! £hey : have done'during the -present struggle which is now going on:as: ; between labour and capital. During an interesting sermon at St.- Peter's! Church, Havelock, on Sunday Mr Enso,r,;sehioi?, referred to the labour, i agitation, and gave some of his own personal experiences years ago in the Old Country. He quite agreed that labour should be united, as it would mean oppression if it were not, but he ; Baid individually we were often weighed in the balance and found wanting, and so was capital, and so was labour, In confirmation of this he cited an instance which occurred within his own experience V Ouwl -?r~» Wot. in.._mn/».h_jdft:r-. mand, and colliers had to work for a pound a week, but soon a change took place ? mi coal went up to a fabulous price, and men gould. pot be got to obtain sufficient coal to meeMhf demand, and those that did workpanted high wages, even as much as *£6" and 47i.per week;;. In a/ short time: ; coal went down in price, but still the men ' wanted 1 to continue on the same • high wages., Mr Ensor also spoke of the; 'misery caused 1 by strikes, and thought: much could be done to prevent future, complications if good God-fearing men! were sent to Parliament—men who, had'the welfare tfttw fellow-men at heart. If this were done- wiee law would be passed that would give justice to everyone. We are only sorry we cannot give the full text of Mr Ensor's earnest, appeal to. his .congregation, in respectto our ;duty towards pur neighbour as bearing on,this question.'

Many people sawder the iinpresr sion.ihat the men have been palled out 'from the ■ Union Company's steamers because they want higher wages, but reaUy&e only cause is that the Union Ooinpany belongs to the Ship-owners' Association in Aus* New Zealand is affllia'ted with 1 that of Australia.,, Practically., the Union i Company granted all the demands ! and officers, but because ! they belong tp "that won't do so: it has 'parsed 'the present trouble. \ ■" The : potato blight is spreading all ; over Jreland, and rain has injured the hay crop and smut the wheat. This is bad news and bodes ill for the inhabitants of that unfortunate .country. A sharp : rise in flour'has'taken'place J in England. A letter on a Fair Tax will appear in our next, The case Bank of New Zealand v, Browrilee [&'_ Cp>,., with ,regard on promissory notes was heard at Wellington, and His Honour, Mr Justice Edwards reserved judgment. \., £usine3s Change in Jhe \ Mr A. W. Dillpn, our mWi Respected landlord, of the Pelprus Hotel, j is about to feave us,,haying taken time \ by the forelock, andl erected a jfusiness .place at WaiHakabo. whipi>,fchiß, pum- ( mer \yill be busy with the music, of the stampers of the Golden. Reefs" there, and the merry hum of the voices of many miners. All in the Pelorus, although sorry at losing our old sportjng friend, : we..wish, him,every'success , in his new venture. As a hotelkeeper ! ! lijQ..- was^, a, .good,. and upright' inan, no inducement hy' h]m to lentice, ;the; spending of money by the'imwary, Inor ,w,onl^a'dr ( unken;nian get / 4,drink from

him, money or no money.' His house here was a model of neatness and cleanliness, and kept in a way that reflects great credit on the female side of the department, but apart from his business as a publican Mr Dillon was a member of our -Peloras, Road Board, . fqrthe last few years, and will ..be long "remembered 7 by the ratepayersifor;.his r indefatigable zeal in,getting for the Pelorus their share of rates spent m their district. Him we may thank for getting the ' old (and in 'wet weather dangerous) bridges lifted between here and Havelock, and drain pipes put there instead, but is to be hoped that, he will, still remain a member, of tha Board, if so there is no dojibt' of the wants of the Pelorus ratepayers being, still well attended to., It is not settled yet who is to be hig successor. 'Have-1 lobk and Pelorus " are both lucky in! having for landlords of • the; different hotels therein gentlemen ■ who would I command-respect in any community, and lucky is the poor, hard up.traveller \ that comes this way, for s from.not,one i rf their doors.would he, : be :; turned I way without food >. and shelter. May I there be many years of prosperity and healt to, them all is the wish of • ■'■ ,: ' An Old Tramp.