Rangitikei Advocate TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9343, 12 January 1909, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

WE appear to be approaching "tne time when the people of this country will have to seriously consider whether the policy followed during the past dozen years or so has produced beneficial or evil results. On all sides there is turmoil and stress, and class wars against class. In spite of artificially increased wages the struggle for existence is becoming harder and the cost of living dearer. A restrictive system, combined with the operations of Unionism which aims not to do better or more work foi better pay, but less work for more pay, has forced up the price of everything within the colony. For a time the improved prices received for our products in the outside markets enabled the ill effects of this policy to he partially escaped, but a lowering of prices ir forcing attention to the fact that the community as a whole has not benefited by the producers being able to bring into the country a greater profit on their products. There is an incessant clamour for still more restriction, which can only make matters worse, and as fast as one industry gets more “protection, ” all others require more to enable them to stand the extra strain. From a combination of various causes the

building of houses, eto., is now carried on under greater difficulties and at greater cost than formerly, and one of our leading industries—timber production—is temporarily paralysed, and according to [statements made by the millers some hundreds of men are to be thrown out of employment. It is alleged that one cause of the slackness of the milling business is that foreign timber is available 'in our markets at cheaper rates. But it is impossible to believe that a duty which would shut out Oregon pine altogether would stimulate people to build when they would have to pay more for their timber, and when building operations would still have to be carried on under the disadvantages that are now connected with it, and at the increased cost of the labour required.

IT is time Parliament set up a Royal Commission," composed of independent men who have no pronounced leaninigs either towards freetrade or protection to enquire not only into the timber trouble bpt into the whole question of the policy the country has submitted to for some time past. The main object of that Commission should be to ascertain why the “cost of living has so largely increased, and why this country with so many and so great natural advantages and whose workers in all the great industries are so well skilled, is not able to compete on equal te&ns with all the world, —npt even able to supply its own people without charging them prices enormously larger than those at which others offer similar goods. There must be something radically wrong when such a state of affairs exists in such a country as this, and it should be possible for an unbiased Commission to ascertain the cause and suggest the remedy.

THERE are galways wheels within wheels in the political machine, and some of the movements are not always at once apparent. Those who seek for a reason why the Ministry have given “a blank cheque'’ to the miners may find, it in the fact that the Thames is a mining constituency, ana it may be considered desirable to afford an opening for Mr MeNab to again occupy a seat in Parliament. The miners be likely to support a Ministerial candidate had the Ministry remained firm, but now that the Miners’ Federation has shown that it rules the Ministry, the latter may have hope of sticking to place, with its pay and power. Pressed by a newspaper interviewer the other day, Mr McNab at last stated that he would stand for an early vacancy if he received the opportunity. Now that the State Accident Insurance Department is to be made to accept an unknown liability, no doubt the usual requisition will be handed to the late Minister of Lauda, i But the price paid by the State Department thus utilised for political service may be a heavy one, and out of all proportion to any benefit likely to be derived by the people as a whole. The situation that has developed shows the danger of allowing the State to control any business department, and furnishes a strong argument to those who oppose any increase of the power of politicians.

JUDGING from the comments of the press of every shade of 'political opinion the action of Sir Joseph in giving a Government guarantee to the State Insurance Department against loss for policies, covering miners’ complaint has caused universal surprise and has met with universal condemnation. At first sight it appeared that the move would at Jeast put an end to the strike and allow the men to return to work, but in this respect it seems to have entirely failed. The general feeling among employers appears to be that the situation is not in any way improved if it is not even made worse by the proposal. Under present conditions the owners who have not employed men under the new Act have not at present incurred any liability in connection with it, but if they accept the Government's offer the arrangement with the Government Accident Insurance Department will more than probably be of a temporary nature, and if it happens that Parliament does not amend the Act - in a manner satisfactory to the employers, they will find themselves in the position of having assumed liability under the Act, and, it may be, are not able to gat the necessary protection from either the Government Department on the other insurance companies. Sir Joseph Ward’s desire for peace at any price has often 1 been shown on other occasions, but it is doubtful whether his latest expedient will not prove more injurious than open war between the miners and the employers.

IT is only fair to give Sir Joseph Ward’s explanation of his action. Speaking to a reporter at Christchurch he said : “There was a difference of opinion in regard to the interpretation of the law, and it was evident that the country was threatened with labour trouble of a very serious character. Under these circumstances we decided to come to the assistance of the parties with a basis for a settlement that would prevent further friction until Parliament had considered the position.” Commenting on this statement the New Zealand Times says: We cannot believe that the country will accept this as an explanation at

all” —a sentiment with which we entirely agree.