The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 131, 22 March 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1879.

In our last issue attention was drawn to the fact that contracts had been entered into for the first section of the Brunnerton Railway, also for a northern section of the Oxford and Temuka Railway. Since then other contracts have been entered into by the Minister for Public Works, not only for railways but for other needful public works. This is encouraging so far, as it shows that the Government promises are not always broken as some would like to make out. Much, however, as we like to s?e proposed public works carried out it is not without some misgivings that we contemplate the result unless other measures are adopted to secure their being a success. The high rates for material and wages prevailing in Iliis colony for some years back, and tne fact thnt these contracts are entered into on the very turn of the labor market make it doubtful whether 'or not the Government should not pause before entering into any large engagements at the present time. Skilled labor at 12s to 15s a day, and unskilled labor at 9s or 10s a day must make these works veiy expensive, possibly one-third more than they might be done for six months hence. The amount of surplus labor in the European market at the present, and the great decrease in the price of all manufactures, is proof positive that a lowkt rate for labor and materials must soon take [dace, and unless our Government takes advantage of the home market at the same time that it decides to cany out large works it is to be feared that many of them will be more an evil than a good. On the other hand, if our Government have the foresight to make arrangements for importing labor on a large scale to go hand in hand with these works the colony would derive a great good. Another thing connected with these contracts is the wherewithal to pay them with. As stated in a former article the land revenue in Canterbury is a'most nil, and .no immediate prospect, of improvement; add to this that a large and increasing expenditure as payment of lands purchased by the Government from the natives in the North Island. With the one decreasing, and the other inoreasing, how is the supplies to be kept up 1 Only one course is open, that is to borrow more money. Sneh a proposal will doubtless be distasteful to some, their great fears always lying lost we overrun the constable.; such individuals are usefn! as reminders, they act very conveniently as a brake. There vs a possibility, however, of putting on the brake too strong, and at the wrong time; such would be the. case were it to be applii-d now. "Works arj projected in this colony that will take some four or live millions of money to complete, yet most people admit that half the money already spent upon our public

works, our railway- especially, will be almost unproductive unless these other works are carried out. Money makes money, it is often said, and often business men fail in their enterprises because they have not sufficient money to carry out their plans. £uch, ih is to be feared, would be the case with the Xu.v Zealand ' Government works, as it has been by the beginners of large works in other couutries. Luckily New Zealand has a chance to prevent-it) and it would be well for the Government to improve the opportunity. The Victorian loan of three millions was tendered for to the extent of nearly nine millions, at a price of 99 or nearly so. A New Zealand loan for another four or five millions Would at the present moment be tendered for at possibly a higher figure. Money in the London open market is only at the present sent moment worth about three per cent., New Zealand securities are in great favor, and every year the faith of English investors in New .Zealand securities is growing stronger ; such being the case preparation for issuing a new loan would be a wise policy on the part of our rulers. The money market in some of the Australian colonies, and to some extent even in New Zealand, is getting stringent. A time of commercial depression has begun amongst us ; speculation, as predicted some time ago, is being curtailed, perhaps for good, but if something is not done wholesome business will also be enormously curtailed as well. It has often been said that high wages and high prices for provisions are signs of prosperous times ; be it so, it is also signs of an unwholesome collapse. This is now our position, we are entering upon such a collapse. Speculation in land has almost ceased, not only so but already some of those who purchased blocks of land, and sold it again at enormous profits, or rather profits in prospect, are beginning to find out that all is not gold that glitters, and some begin to see that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. For the next year or two this will be the case ; things will get from bad to worse, unless the Government at once apply the remedy. It is admitted that most of the railways projected as well as those already made, will return (if judiciously managed) fair interest for the outlay, while the waste lands of the Crown would be opened up. But there is a condition attached, that condition is cheap labor. Most public journals fight shy of this question, simply because they fear bringing down the wrath of the often inconsiderate workingclasses upon them, and when a name is given to five or six shillings a day for labor it is giving a name to that which will, on the spur of the moment, be -denounced by not a few, but we tell them plainly that whether they like the idea or not they will very soon find it a reality. What is high wages doing just now 1 We will answer it iu Scotch fashion by putting another question. What is it that is causing so many agricultural farmers to sell off their working plant <this season 1 Scarcely any did it last two orNthree seasons. Simply because they cannot pay such high wages. Many farmers this season, after paying all expenses, do not leave a single pound to themselves ; they consequently give up farming till wages are lowered. The same is the case with all commercial men. There is a cutting down of expenditure all over the colon}'. Now, this is not a healthy state of things, yet it is likely to continue, and its evil effects will be"felt more .idcl more. There has been a sight seen sometimes in this colony that it would be well were it not seen again, that is—to see stalwart men going with their swags upon their backs from province to province, and could not get a clay's work. This is a painful sight, yet it has been seen over and over again ; and why ] Because the rate of wages was so high that owners of property dare not go on with improvements. Those workmen who were in employment claimed high wages, while those who were not in employment dare not work for low wage?. Men often say they wont work for this or that, consequently employers of labor, rather than run the risk of being abused and talked about, prefer not making an offer at all. Our plan, therefore, would be to establish a lower rate of wages for labor and ensure steady employment. If men could be got for say six shillings a day, a great deal of work would be gone on with. Would it not be better for a man to have six shillings a day all the year round, then teu shillings a day and a fourth part of his time idle ? Another evil arises from high wages—it i.s, that more money is spent in drink and other debaucheries than otherwise would be the case. It is very questionable if our laboring clases are better off with ten or twelve shillings a day than they would be with little more than the half. Publichouse keepers may be better off, but not them. We will put a rider to this verdict, and it is this : that if the Government -send home for some ten or twenty thousand laborers, and provide work for them at 5s or 6s a day, they ought to provide also the opportunity of their being able to settle upon a block of land on easy terms of payment, where the steady can better themselves if they like to do so ; and if the spendthrift will have less to spend in intoxicating drinks, there will be no loss. ~Ko right-thinking man would take pleasure in grinding down the working man ; but, on. the other band, no man who wishes this colony to progress will lend himself to a system or a state of things that must lead the half of the population to ruin. Day after day the remarks are made : we cannot build, we cannot fence, we cannot improve that land, it would not pay at such wages; ploughmen at 25s to 30s a week ; r o fair or reasonable prices will pay for it, and therefore farmers knock off farming. Now, we say it plainly and without the least reserve, that a laboring man with steady employment at 6s a day may live very comfortable, Provisions are cheaper here than at home ; clothing - is now nearly as cheap ; boots and shoes are in many cases cheaper, and even better, than at home. Why snoull there be such a difference in wages, even independent of a chance of land ? Many would he well off if iney had pte-.'/'y em, b-yucnt even at lower wa.sres ; steady employment rather than high wi.'ges to those empi lyecl wish sfrignaUwn, would not be a sound state of things. Of course, in the casa of skilled 1 d>or it is different. Surely the case of a man who spends his four or five or seven years fo acquire a knowledge of his business has a right to higher wages than those who do not ; just as an engineer, a surveyor, a doctor, or other members of the learned professions whose education is their capital who are entitled

to higher remuneration for their services than those whose trade or occupation donot require such outlay. If, then, our Government are prepared to enter upon an extensive immigration scheme to import labor let them ( do so, but if it reduces the rate of wages, let theni also import capital so as to secure steady employment. If this is done ; the country will continue prosperous,. and the present depression will soon come to an end. Owners of lan*' will have more confidence, tradesmen will do a steadier and safer business, workmen will he able to find employment, and population will consume our produce ; manufactures will spring up, the great masses of the unemployed at home will seek our shores, and shortly become employers of labor themselves to improve their own freeholds. This is the only way in which New Zealand can retain its good name. We therefore counsel the Government to wisely consider the present state of affairs, and take action before it is too late.