THE SWING OF THE PENDULUM.

Te Aroha News, 15 February 1890, Page 4

THE SWING OF THE PENDULUM.

Sy J. O. Firth.

Berlin telegrams of February 7th report that * the Emperor William’s labour decree (to improve the condition of workmen) has caused a prodigious sensation throughout Germany, The press of all shades declare it will advance the well-being of his subjects, and prove an additional safeguard to the Throne.” London telegrams of the same date say that, “ Opinion in England is averse to the German Emperor’s proposed labour reforms.”

The following extract from the American Consul-General Raine’s report on Germany in 18S8, describes the condition of the working classes there in 1887, and shows that the Emperor’s action is none too soon :

“ Wages are so low that they could not well be much lower. The labouring population of the Empire have a constant battle to wage against want and misery. Meat, in some parts of the Empire, is a luxury to be obtained but once or twice a week. Black bread and potatoes make up the chief diet of many of them. Long hours of labour, scanty fare, and poor compensation is the rule among them. The average yearly earnings of working men in Germany is £2B 10s.” A German Government report in October, 1887, quoted by the American ConsulGeneral, states that “out of every 100 manufactories employing machinery, 49 work on Sundays, with 29 out of every 100 of their workmen. That 47 out of every 100 handwork establishments, with 41 out of eveiy 100 of their workmen, work on Sundays. That in trade and commerce, 67 establishments out of every 100, with 57 out of every 100 of their employees, work on Sundays.”

As to immoral influences at work amongst some classes of German work-people, the United States Commercial Agent Smith, in his official report, says that “in manysuga r factories, as well as in chicory and rubber goods factories, the women work half-naked alongside men.” Is it any wonder that 100,000 people emigrate from Germany every year? Is it surprising that ab last the Emperor William has resolved to improve the condition of the German workmen, or that the German newspaper press of all shades welcome the movement ?

On the other hand, looking at the fears of German competition constantly expressed in English manufacturing and commercial circles, how are we to explain the London telegram that “English opinion is averse to the German Emperor’s proposed labour reforms?” One would have thought that every extra daily shilling paid to German workmen, every hour worked less by them per day would have played into the hands of English factory masters and commercial houses, by rendering German competition less formidable.

Can it be possible that the English middle class, who run the factories, commercial houses and largely run the newspaper press, are so stupid in the selfishness engendered by the mad pursuit of riches, as to be dead to the improvement in the condition of men in the same stock as themselves? Or do they fear that the Revolt of Labour against this Tyranny of Capital bids fair to become general ? The fierce competition characteristic of the English trading and manufacturing operations of to-day, may have deprived English capitalists of good feeling and common sense; but we who dwell on this sunnier side of the English world, decline to believe that the London telegram above quoted, correctly represents the opinions even of the middle class, much less the general spirit of the English nation. For forty years the middle class have ruled ohe nation, and have done many noble deeds and some mean ones. But if this London telegram be true, the sooner the sceptre passes from the hands of the middle class to the democracy, the better for the Nation, the better for Humanity. The pendulum is, nevertheless, undoubtedly swinging in the direction of shorter hours and higher pay, and every well-wisher to the progress of Man, will say “ Let it swing.” So far as Australasian colonists are concerned, this movement in Europe for shorter hours of toil and better pay is a great testimony to the generous goodwill so prominent amongst us. For it is a fact which may as well be remembered, that the good example of shorter hours and better pay was first set in the Australasian colonies. It is not often that a good deed so quietly meets with its reward. But it cannot be questioned, that every extra shilling paid, and every hour of toil shortened in Europe, will tell in favour of the development of almost every one of our industrial enterprises. “Auckland Star,” February 11.