CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 227, 4 March 1915, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE WAGES '' Discussing the wages question, the Dunedin Star says:-The majority of workers will require no long thought to give a definite and emphatic reply in the affirmative to the timely question: Should wages be increased? Commercial conditions are pressing heavily on workers and restricting the comparatively snug conditions of their labor as con-trolled-by the Arbitration Court, hi certain ways the commercial. pressure upon the earning power of workers is unwarranted and difficult of justification in relation to the economic disturbances caused by the war. The increase in the price of bread, which has been raised to lOd in Christchurch as from March 1, is, for example, a matter tint excusably raises the ire of the worker, who had hoped for protection against exploitation. It is true that the regulation of the sale of foodstuffs in tiie Dominion has proved a problem beyond the power of politicians to solve, and it is equally true that as regards New Zealand grown wheat—a restricted product during the past decade owing to the attractive, prices obtained for meat and dairy produce—it was inevitable that bread would increase in price; but what is to bo said of those persons who purchased imported wheat at 5s fld per bushel and are now selling the flour at £lO per ton beecause farmers and holders are asking from Cs 9d to "s a bushel for local wheat? One can hardly call them patriotic. It would seem that the Government's creditable effort in importing wheat Loin Australia an I Canada has not had the effect of checking the greed or some buyers. Jt is grossly unfair to contend that because wheat cannot mow be imported without loss under 6s fld that millers are justified in demanding £l6 per ton for the flour milled from wheat purchased from the Government at 5s 9d per bushel. What is the reasoning of the majority of the workers, who see that abnormal laws during war are unable *c combat abnormal conditions and (to Bpeak candidly) abnormal greed? They demand a compensating increase in wages. It does not follow, of course, that their demand will be supported by the Arbitration Court. Many employers, as a matter of fact, are carrying on their businesses normally at a great I deal less than normal profit, and manv enterprises ar c stayed because the pres- | ent cost of labor is considered too high when added to the extra charges incurred by firms. Several industries experience depression, and administrators of public affairs and enterprise are unable tomorrow money at reasonable rates. These conditions must be considered before any serious attempt can be made at adjusting stationary wages to the continual rise in the cost of living. It is beyond challenge that tiie primary industries of the Dominion are exceptionally buoyant, but it must be remembered that the great profits falling to produceers and certain middleme„ are not distributed among all employers. It is illogical to argue that because farmers are exceedingly prosperous there should be- a general increase in wages. The matter lias been placed before the Arbitration Court, but th" President promptly disillusioned the adadvocates of that shaky system of balancing an increase in the cost of livitiT with an increase in wages. His Honor pointed out at Auckland that, if the Court decided to reopen for the purpose of considering awards, an increase in wages would not necessarily follow. It is clear that the Court will have to consider the problem in the light of geneial conditions. We are inclined to'believe that a method very different from .the mechanical process of increasing wages (which would probably inflate tiie eost of commodities) will have to be established to regulate the operations of those who traffic and prospec e.vceedinglv in foodstuffs. Restrictive taxation appears to be the most effective method of creating a reasonable standard of commercial patriotism.

TliK KXAMI.VATIOX CURSE. Mv Meredith Atkms<-Ti, who is in Dunedin at present prcachinf; the propa."ninla of tutorial classes that will make' the university an institution serving the whole of the community, delivered him-c-ii' in no uncertain fashion reecently

on the question of degrees and diplomas —MiA. of Oxford though he himself n. His pronouncement was inspired by a question asked by.on,e of the auditors upo n his statement that th* essays of some students attending the- Workers' Fducation Association's tutorial classes had b«en pronounced, by professors to be so good that they would have won an honors degree at the- university. And the quesetio n asked by the auditor was naturally, "Was nothing done to recogftise this merit." Mr Atkinson replied! that a vote of all the students of tfte classes was taken, and 00 per cent., were against the provision of any .diplomas or certificates,, with which lie hearfily concurred. It was then that he added: "I am strongly in favor of abolishing university degrees. I think the world has been drowned in diplomas land degrees. The pursuit of degrees ! makes the pursuit of knowledge in the jtmte sense almost impossible. You 3x your eyes upo n certain professional attainments, which often obscure your search for knowledge. The examination system which it creates is responsible for some of the horrible educational crimes and chaos i n the world. I do not know what', your system is here, but I am told thattrt is the examination system. Our movement will have no truck with the examination system or degrees, and if the movement goes back on that I will be for jumping cut of it.'*