THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1891. COMING EVENTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2228, 16 July 1891, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1891. COMING EVENTS.

Tin: result of the New South Wales election, by which a large number of working men obtained seats in Parliament, Ims frightened the capitalists in the Australian colonies. No doubt it is a similar feeling which has made our Tory members in the New Zealand Parliament so illnatured and spiteful, as they have shown themselves to be in the recent debate. The Melbourne correspondent of the Otago Daily Times has written several letters on the subject, and shows that there is much excitement over the affair. Great discussions are taking place in the papers, in which bishops, archbishops, deans, etc., are taking sides. The Eight Kev. Dr Carr, Homan Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, and the Protestant Bishop of Ballarat are on the side of the people, and the Protestant Dean of Melbourne is very violent against the unionists. The correspondent tells us that “ About GO leading mercantile and propertied men met last Friday and laid the foundation of what is to be called “ The National Association.” It is to embrace politicians of all shades of opinion, its object being to u sink minor differences and unite to maintain law, order, and good government, and secure fair legislation j” and a leading plank of its platform is “to preserve the national character of the Leglislature, the association affirming that representatives should not be the delegates of any section or society.”

It does not augur well for the new movement that it is based on an .obvious lie. How can men elected by a majority of the people be regarded as the delegates of a class ? In olden times, when a man had to be possessed of a good deal of property before he could vote, then it could be said that those elected to Parliament were the representatives of a class, but it is nonsense to talk so now. The wealthy men have brought it all on themselves. Only a few months ago they boasted that they had forced on a strike in a slack season so that they could crush trades unions. They succeeded in a sort of a way, but what have they gained by it ? They have simply angered the working classes and made them more determined than ever. Prom the beginning to the end of the strike we advocated peace at any price, but the capitalists would have nothing but the complete subjugation of labor. They succeeded, but now there they are in New South Wales witli the very men whom they crushed become their masters. It is no doubt very difficult for the capitalist to bring himself down to be thwarted in any. thing, but he will find he will have to submit by and by, and the more resistance he offers the worse it will be for him.

FREEDOM OF CONTRACT

We have heard a great deal with regard to freedom of contract” in connection with the shearers’ strike, but it is only now we are made aware of its technical meaning. Mr J. R. McDonald, a delegate of the Australian Shearers’ Union, who is on a lecturing tour through New Zealand at the present time, explained the matter in Timaru last Monday evening. lie said—

“ The Pastoralists’ Union defined “ freedom of contract” as follows :—“ That the shearer shall not (a) absent himself from work, but in case ho leaves before the completion of shearing, owing to sickness accident, or some unforeseen cause, or by the permission of the employer or his agent, or if he (b) be discharged, as he may be, for breach of this agreement, or of the working rules endorsed hereon, or attached hereto, he shall be paid in full for the number of sheep shorn by him up to the time of such discharge, but he shall be charged 20s per week for his board and lodgings” The shearers suggested the following amendment “ That the wilfully be inserted after the word not (a) and the words leave or be inserted between the words he and (b) ;” these and a further amendment “ That a shearer should be allowed to terminate Ids engagement by giving a week’s notice of his intention so to do” were each rejected, and on each and every occasion have they received the same answer, viz., “ Concede to us our definition of freedom of contract and we confer with you on any other points.”

From this it will be seen what the squatters’ ideas with regard to freedom of contract are. They are that they shall have all the freedom, and the shearers none. All the shearers wanted was that for thy words shall

not absent himself” the words “ sliall not wilfully absent himself” shonld be substituted, but the squatters refused. They also wanted to give the shearer a right to leave, in the same way that the squatter had a right to discharge him, but the squatters would not agree to it. If the shearer committed a breach of the agreement the squatter could dismiss him, but if the squatter broke the agreement the shearers could not leave. And this is what the squatter calls freedom. The shearer wanted to secure the right to leave by giving a week’s notice, but the squatters would not concede it. Now, put in plain language, the squatter’s idea of freedom is simply slavery, modernised so as to give the thing a decent appearance. So long as the squatter reserves to himself the right to dismiss, the shearer ought to possess the right to leave, or else the freedom is all on the one side. There is one lesson which it is very hard to make wealthy landowners learn, and it is that other people have rights as well as themselves. Let squatters come off the stilts, from the heights of which they look with contempt on the remainder of humanity; let them endeavor to realise that the world was not specially made for themselves aud their sheep, and they will unoubtedly not only be happier but much better off in pocket. To fight this paltry, miserable dispute they have nearly mined the colony, and wasted tlieir own substance, and it will all result in their being beaten, if it takes twenty years.

THE COMING GRAIN SEASON. Several months ago we undertook to to advise farmers to put in a good deal of grain during the present season, as we believed the price of grain next season would be excellent. A short time afterwards ive again drew attention to the subject, and pointed out that the National Mortgage & Agency Company had given instructions to tlieir agents in New Zealand to go in for grain as much as possible, as the price would be high dur.ng the coming year. From time to time we have published items of news since then which point in the same direction. There is a famine in Russia, and though it has in the past supplied an an immense quantity of wheat to Europe it is said that it will not have enough to supply its own wants this year. America cannot ' spare as much as half what will be wanted, and so everything indicates high prices. This, we think, may be relied upon, and one tiling which we desire to warn farmers against is being in too great a hurry to sell. We are told that certain Christchurch merchants have alread} r made offers to certain farmers in this district to buy all their grain next season at 3s (3d per bushel. We do not think anyone ought to take such an bifer as this. A certain Oamaru man bought a lot of potatoes in this district last year, but di<f he take them when they got so cheap? He did not, and neither would the Christchurch merchants take the grain at 3s 6d per bushel if it happened to fall to 2s (id. They would find some loophole to escape by. The position is: The Christchurch man would buy because he thinks prices will be high next year. It is purely a speculation with him ; but surely if he can afford to speculate the farmer can do the same and hold his wheat until lie has reaped it. By that time he will be in a better position to know its value. Our advice, therefore is, put in wheat, although the season is unfavorable, and we feel sure no one will be sorry for taking it.

THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS. The Railway Commissioners and their Tory champions received a snub from Parliament last Tuesday evening. The Commissioners ordered some locomotive boilers from Home some time ago. and Mr Seddon, Minister of Public Works, asked them how it was they did not get the work done in the colony, when men were out of work and it could be seen that it would be cheaper to get them made locally. The Commissioners politely told Mr Seddon, after some circumlocution, that they did not think he had any right to ask them, in fact, they said in effect that lie must mind his own business. Mr Seddon said that Parliament would have to pass the money to pay for the boilers ; that he was the Minister who would have to give an explanation to Parliament, and that consequently it was necessary for him to know all about it. All this correspondence was laid befors Parliawent, but a letter was omitted, and the Commissioners complained to the Speaker of this omission. The result was that last Tuesday, Mr Bryce, thinking he had found a mare’s nest, brought the matter up as a breach of privilege, which of course was tantamount to a vote of censure on Mr Seddon. The best-laid scheme of Mr Bryce resulted in the Commissioners and himself being well snubbed. The letter on being produced showed that it had no bearing at all on the question at issue, and a motion was carrieo approving of Mr Seddon’s action. After this, Avill the Tories persist in wasting time with frivolous opposition to the Ministry ?