Rangitikei Advocate FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 1908 EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9163, 5 June 1908, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 1908 EDITORIAL NOTES.

IN his speech at Dunedin Mr Millar alleged that the high rents now charged were caused by “the fictitious values of land given by the high price of our products. ” If this were true then the slump in wool should be followed by reductions in rentals, whereas everyone knows rentals are increasing. Moreover are not the fictitious values of land chiefly due to the operations of the Government valuers? 'Who but they are responsible for most of the fictitious value? Mr Millar is not a student of political economy or he would know several things of which he appears to be ignorant. He would know that when labour laws and a fiscal system co-operate to increase die cost of everything, and the purchasing power of money is thus reduced, rents and everything else must inevitably rise. He would also realise that when a policy of spoonfed manufactures draws numbers into the towns who should be working in the primary producing industries in the country the greater demand for houses and house room in the cities must have the effect of increasing rent charges. Under a proper system—if all industries were carried onMuder natural conditions — if there was no legislation for the lazy and no restriction of import of articles we cannot produce so cheap as we cau get them from others, — then any increased joxUces for our products in the outside markets would benefit the whole community. It is tiie policy supported by Mr Millar and his colleagues which is answerable for all the evils of which lie complains.

THE futility of attempting to make arbitration effective when awards are displeasing to employees was quite unconsciously forcibly illustrated by the Hon. J. A, Millar in his speech at Duuediu. He stated ; “The penalties inflicted on employers between 1903 and 1908 amounted to £3159, and 93 per cent, of that sum had been paid. The penalties inflicted on workers during the same period amounted to £l2O, of which 75 per cent, had been paid. The penalties inflicted on the slaughtermen totalled £1350, of which 47 per cent had been paid. The sum of £329 was owing by men, whose whereabouts were unknown. These were the men from Australia, who, having brought about the trouble, cleared away and left our own workers to face the difficulty.’’ It will be seen that while it is comparatively easy to compel the employers it is only in a few instances that the law cau be made effective against the employee. Mr Millar, however, while making this statement did not realise its significance, or ho would never propose to free the employee from the risk of imprisonment which alone causes payment of fines for breaches of award.

SOME eccentric genius has evolved the idea of holding a display of New Zealand goods in every centre, and this began in Wellington yesterday. If the idea is to convince the public that New Zealanders really can and do make certain articles it was quite unnecessary. No one questions that New Zealanders can manufacture—at r a price. To make the “show” perfect and truly instruct the public there should be displayed in juxtaposition with each article a similar article made in Britain or any other country, and the price of the New Zealand article and the price at which the other could be supplied, were it not for restrictive duty, should be set out prominently. If that was done the New Zealander would need no argument to show him that he would benefit if the New Zealand maker was not “protected” at ins expense.

WE observe that some of the politicians are gravely discussing the question of coalition or coalescence of the Ministry and the Opposition. This fact is suggestive as showing that the politicians have ceased to give any consideration to principles,

and are actuated only by desire to retain place, pay and power. Long continued .successful fooling of the people iias caused the politicians to believe that Parliament exists only for the purpose of providing thorn with salaries and porqoi.-.ies. It is time they received a rude a wakening.

ACCORDING to the Hou. George Fowlds “Socialism is only a party cry.” This is expected to lull tiie fears of those who believe that socialism is a real danger which is attacking the body politic. ‘Mr Fowlds would also doubtless inform us that Single-Tax is only a party cry, and that all the extremists are only shouting party cries which mean nothing. But it is not desirable that the people should be lulled into a false sense of security, and it is inoontestible that so far from Socialism being a mere party cry it- influences all Ministerial legislation and all Ministerial action—or inaction.