The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 1905. THE LABOUR REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7904, 21 August 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 1905. THE LABOUR REPORT.

Th« report' of the Labour Department just laid before Parliament atiords another striking illustration of the prosperity and expansive power of the Colony, and pves conclusive proof of the great industrial activity wfordh means' increastjd comfpi'l and happiness 'or the workers. In the course of a somewhat lcngihy article by Sir John Gorst (who wab Civil Commissioner of tiie Waikaw in 1861-1 and has subsequently held several.important positions in the Home Government') in the Fortnightly Review he states "The misery of the workers, if a direct product of our civilsaUon, applet's to be unaflected by the political or ccono' mic systems of the various countries involved. It does not matter under what form of Government a nation may be placed, whether absolute or popular, these unsatisfactory conditions manifest themselves in alj Hit large centres of population. In the Tsar's autocratic dominions, in France under her republican Government, in our own constitutional monarchy, in the democracy of the United States, in the monarchy of the German Kmpire, , and in the free young communities of Victoria and New South Wales, the problem ot widespread destitution has grown to i almost equally alarming proportions. . . . There are philosophers,

politicians, and agitators who denounce the whole system of society as rotten, and declare that there i: no remedy for the evils under which so large a part of the people sutler, except a complete destruction of the present crder, and its reconstruction on entirely diflcrent lines. The danger of such a revolution hangs continually over every Western nation : when tne sufferings of the people become exasperated leyond a certain point, such a revolution may anywhere break forth." It will be noticed that tilre distinguished; writer of the article in question does noi tneJude New Zealand amongst the countries cited. Whether this was ai. intentional omission either because this colony was not considered to have "large centres of population,' or that the writer was aware of tne fact that the conditions he was describing could not possibly exist here, must be matter of conjecture, liut what a contrast is presented by the word picture of misery dfawn so graphically by Sir John Gorst, ami the plain but convincing testimony to he found in the report of the Labour Department m to the satisfactory Industrial and economic conditions now prevailing In this colony. To attribute this result to the ordinary working of the well-known law of supply and the demand would not by any means convey the truth, which is that it is mainly due to the beneficient result to the workers as a direct consequence of legislation which has attracted the attention of other countries and excited considerable envy. What has been termed "Socialistic Legislation" has in New Zealand solved the problem which older countries have been unable 1,0 grapple with. As a mult there is now very little friction between employers and employees that cannot easily be overcome. All the croakers who prophrsised that the effect of our advanced legislation in Ihe interests of tlic wage-earners would ruin trade and cause the withdrawal of capital from industrial enterprises were a long way out in their reckoning, for it is exactly the reverse which has happened. The number of factories has increased during the period covered by the report by 050, while no less than 3745 workers have 'oeen added to (he previous total. This increased work has naturally brought about an inenvased speeding power, whi l ;; the increased savings show the confidence oi the people in the future and the incentive,offered lo them in the direction of thrift. While the John Gorst is proclaiming the possibility of revolutions consequent on misery, it is pleasing lo find New Zealand workers exhibiting a state of prosperity and Jjappi.ne.ss, bfiscd on sound progressive laws, and . affording a guarantee of profound industrial peace. Probably the only problem which has -a disturbing tendency is that of "housing," but even Ibis will soon be overcome by the scheme which the Government propose to cany out in obtaining land and assistiiig the "workers" with advances to enajjle then) lo build thoir own IdweMiirgs. A project of this nature when properly carried out will have % considerable cflect in relieving the working classes from the unreasonably high rents now demand, ed from the town workers. Moreov. er a scheme insuring cheap houses in Ihe suburbs, and easy communication with industrial centres by low fares for trains,' wqufyl not only lie a direct benefit to workers, but to others, by relieving- the competition lor town residences, and would -exercise a highly desirable check on the growing rents of town dwellings, now almost occupied (through want of alternative) by compulsion. Other important benefits Would also accrue from the adoption of this scheme, not the least of which are the improved conditions of life constituent on the removal of families from congested areas to more ope* positions where fresh air is abundant and the surroundings such as t-o improve the people morally ami physicariy., Without dotrtrt our advanced labour laws have laid the foundation for the comfort and prosperity of the workers, anil W should he a matter o( congratulation ihat the present condition or industrial progress is so satis/aftory, ■while Ihe luture need not cause slijJjtest symptom of alarm.