Rangitikei Advocate. TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9390, 9 March 1909, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. TUESDAY, MARCH 9,1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

THE present state of the flax indnstry is an interesting object lesson as to the result of adopting hard and fast rules as to wages in an indnstry compete in the open markets of the world. Until recently the awards of the Arbitration Oonrc applied only to the protected industries and their full result was concealed by the fact that employers could in most cases raise prices so as to get an equivalent for the increased cost of production. The general effect has of course, been to increase the cost of living to such an extant that, for married men at least, the rise in wages has been of little practical advantage. As soon, however, as we come to the industries where prices cannot bo raised at will the situation is materially altered. If wages are raised to a level which can only bo justified when prices are high, any fall in

prices in the London markets.oannot be met by a reduotibn in the cost of production, because the wages are fixed by awards. The only primary industries affected by awards hitherto have been freezing works and flax mills. The cost of slaughtering is not a very serious item in the value of a frozen sheep or lamb, and, therefore, the slaughtermen’s award has not caused much inconvenience as yet. but in flaxmilling the cost of labour is such an important element that when prices diminish by 30 per cent and the award remains unaltered considerable difficulty is experienced by employers in making ends meet,and in many cases mills have closed down. The theory of the labour leaders is apparently that it is better to have no wages as all than to 'accept less than those fixed by an award in times of high prices for the finished product. The representatives of the employees attempt to prove that it is royalties and not wages that should be lowered to meet the present difficulty ; in other words, whoever suffers it must not be the labourer. They even go so far as to demand that Government should regulate royalties.a proposal which would have curious results if applied to other unprotected industries. Suppose for example an award was made to regulate the dairy industry and the price of butter and cheese suffered a

serious fall. The argument of the labourers would be that farmers could not produce butter at a paying price, not because wages were too high, but because the rent paid for land was too high, and Government would be asked to step in and regulate the price to be paid for land. Such a demand could only be given effect to after the whole of the land in the country had been nationalised, a state of affairs which is not likely to come to pass.

THE people of Martdn are beginning to feel the serious inconvenience of lack of water as many tanks have now failed and residents are entirely dependent on the water cart. There is a general impression that it is quite time some scheme for an adequate supply was put before the ratepayers and the advisability of holding a public meeting to consider the question is being widely discussed. There seems no doubt that before finally adopting any scheme ic would be well to discover whether the Government would be willing to assist in the provision of a good water supply for the railway. For some time past the Railway Department has been paying at the rate of £l5O per annum to Marton Borough Council for water for engines and other purposes, and there seems every reason to expect that this demand will increase as time goes on. It is, therefore, quite possible that the Department would be willing to join the borough in the attempt to find a source which would give a permanent supply of good drinking water. The first step would be to ask for a competent engineer co investigate the problem. It is possible that the proposal might not meet with favour from the authorities, but that is no reason for not putting it before them. It is a purely business proposition. The borough wants water and the Department is in the same plight, and if the two joined forces the result would bo more satisfactory than if the borough attempted to deal with the matter alone. We understand that Sir, Joseph Ward will pay a visit to Marton [shortly, and the occasion would be a good one to bring the question of water supply to his notice.