The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Issue 177, 20 September 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1879.

t__ The qn-'stiiHi, “ What sluili Ue done with our unemployed ]” is exerciring the minds of the- rilling authorities in every large <entre. .Some seven hundred men aro out of pm; loyraent in Dunedin, an equal number in Christchurch, and dquytDss proportionate numbers are to be-found in every town in the colony. Various emscs are pointed out as bringing about this slate of things, the late depression and scarcity of money being the principal cause in Hm opini-m of many. Other eanses have, in our opinion, been at work. High wages in almost every department of labour has doubtless largely contributed to the present slat.; of matters. Bricklayers. plumbers, plasterers, masons, builders, blacksmiths, and s'veral other branches of trade receiving atthe rate of from 13s to 16s a day could not but have a deterring effect upon every enterprise. The high figures of £7O to £75 a year to common ploughmen first began to give resuits in the utter ruin of many fanners. At the very first down wan) turn of the market price of their produce, farmers not only were compelled?, to cease going on with improvements, biit were obliged to go to their merchants or bankers to borrow money to pay these exorbitant rates. This, when a bad harvest or low prices took place, was of course a first charge upon their incomes, and, as is always the case when times of depression come, farmers are the first to suffer in their credit bv the depreciation of stock. So it happened in the late crisis, the result being that farmers’ bills became in many cases of no value, and their credit collapsed. So in the case of every enterprise in large or moderately-sized towns. The building trade in particular was run up to an enormous pitch, and hands at the high price of 14s a day could not be got in sufficient supply to carry out tire work. This in turn led to demands for even higher wages— some trades even considered the advisability of striking for £1 a day. While farm produce kept up in value, and farmers’ credit kept good, all went merry as a marriage hell, but a turn came—hands were discharged, teams were sold at half their former value or turned out, and men thronged to tire towns, or moved away to other climes. So also in the towns—so long as the value of property kept up all went well; it was not unreasonable for the owners to estimate the value at what it cost, but here also a turn came. Money got scarce, the Dunks prrt on the screw when they saw speculation was running wild, the consequence being that property fell considerably in value, the building trade became stagnant, wages came down, and, as is always the case when things begin to get had, they kept going down and down till ruin and devastation became common and the Press became filled with notices of bankruptcy, thus ending in the crowd of unemployed becoming swelled by the addition of many who used to be employers of labor. Now, to our mind, tins is just another instance of the danger of hastening to be rich, and is a proof of the evil consequences concomitant with extravagance. An 1 wo assert that had a more reasonable scale of charges prevailed for the last four or five years, the present trying times would not have been felt nearly so keenly. As it is, property in many cases has been reduc?d more than a third, and in many cases a half. Speculation in fanning and in building has ceased ; labor at a reasonable rate of wages is not now to be had, and the streets of our towns are thronged with hundreds bordering on pauperism. If, instead of the high figures we have named, rates of 6s for unskilled to 10s for skilled labor had prevailed, and a rate not exceeding L 45 to LSO a year for a single ploughman—which we think is not starvation rates—been the rule, the laud would hfive been tilled, houses Would have been built, and instead of a few living riotously on large incomes, and the Many finding a precarious living by charging (when they had the chance) two day’s wages for one day's work and going the other day idle, all would have been in employment and able to keep out of debt. The best that can be done now is fer employers and employed to learn a wholesome lesson by acting up to the rule live and 'let live. It will be observed that in Dunedin and Christchurch an appeal lias been made to the Government. Let ns see what effect this will have on our own little community. We have our unemployed also, some of which have been obliged to leave and sell their little properties greatly under value, vowing never to come back here again. Stagnation of trade amongst us will become more severely felt by all business men in the place, property will get still further depreciated in value, and disgust and distress will be the climax, when the little to am of Temuka, which has so 'ong held a good name, will become a mockery and a by-word. Ono x’emedy is at hand. The railway bridge is going on, and, in the hands of an energetic contractor, will soon be an accomplished fact. No time, therefore, should be lost in petitioning the Government to commence the formation of the line. Ouf member, also, should be stirred up to a little greater exertion in matters connected with the district. The battle for and against him is now at an eud, and should no more be remembered, in the meantime. He is now our member ; let him understand we look to him for the fulfilment of his promises—that the interests of the district, if left in his hands, will be well cared for. Let us hope Mr Wakefield will devote his time to other matters than merely trying to oust a minority in whom the country have every confidence.