The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1891. THE TIMES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2203, 19 May 1891, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1891. THE TIMES.

Pbobablt there never was more disturbed times. Strikes and disturbances all over European countries, rebellions all over the the others. All the southern States of America are in a state of rebellion, and it seems as if the forces were pretty well equal. Hayti has once again its disturbance, Portugal is shaken to its foundations, Jewish persecutions in Russia, massacre of the Chosen People in Corfu, massacre of the Christiana in China, Italy and the United States at daggers drawn, and. so on. Nerer, probably, was there such widespread disquietude, and yet there are no two nations at war. The peace of Europe is being admirably maintained, and though England has browbeaten little Portugal a little, still their differences are soon healed. J his is what gives thr present times a peculiar character. The people of almost every country are engaged, more or less, in fratricidal warfare, and this is probably what is at the bottom of all the apparent good feeling which at the present time exists between the nations. They are afraid of entering upbn war abroad lest a rebellion might break out at home. In all this there is evidence of

: approaching changes. History teems with similar examples. The destruction of slavery was ushered in by terrible disturbances in every country in Europe, and the present unsettled state of the people is indicative of a change. What will the change be? Chat i§ the question- We have no means of knowing any more than anyone else, but it appears to us fch«tit Jiust go in the direction public opinion is taking—-that is, that there shall be a more equal distribution of the good things of this earth, and that a few

shall not lire in profligate luxury and demoralising idleness while the working millions are hungry. That is at the bottom of all the present disturbances. They are chiefly labor disputes. Just as the old slate masters endeavored to maintain their ancient privileges, capital is at present fighting to maintain its authority untram jaelled, but the working classes are now fairly well educated and want more of the fruits of tbeir labor than their forefathers did. It is, of course, inly natural that disagreements should •fault from jarring elements of this isture, and it is not likely that peace vill be restored until one party is ible to subdue the other. As regards he labor party, they bare been frecently subdued, but, like the monster n which two heads used to grow as oon as one was cut off, no sooner are hey crushed than they rise up again. , t is therefore not likely that they : rill always be kept down; they will j

have their day at some time or another, But in the meantime great bardihips will be experienced. At the present time the world is upset by these disturbances, and people de not like launching out capital in enterprises which will be subject to labor troubles. Consequently the field of labor must become narrower, and production must decrease, ihe effect of all this must be that as production decreases prices will increase, and so must the number of unemployed. If people are afraid to put their money into enterprises because of the disturbed state »f the labor market, there | must be less production and less employment. This is not a promising state of affairs, but it appears to us that this is practically what we are face to face with. Our system of competition has already taken us down to the bed-rock of cheapness, and and when it does not pay to produce any class of goods production ceases. With labor disturbances on the top of cheap prices the timid capitalists will be afraid to inrest their money, and I there will be less pre duction. This will lead to fearfully ! hard times, but of course wo should I not experience them in a country like this, There is, however, only one way of avoiding it, and that is by settling people on the land. Settle the people on the land, make peace with trades unions, go to work hand in hand—and when others shall be engaged in murdering, shooting, and killing each other, we in this colony will be enjoying the blessings of peace and prosperity.