Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDB REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1874. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 330, 14 February 1874, Page 2

Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDB REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1874. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

We have often been struck with the fact that we suffer from over-legislation, and legislation merely imitative. There are frequently conditions in an old country calling for legislative interference which are not found in a new, and to introduce those measures where the abuses do not exist, tends to create offences which ought not to be so adjudged. As in morals, we should avoid creating offences by the multiplication of vows or arbitrary rules ; so in civil mattei'S we ought rather to wait for the development of an evil than help it on by untimely regulations. Notably in this line we would mention the Bill to shorten the hours of labor in factories in Victoria, and which has been aped by Mr. Bradshaw in New Zealand. We say aped, for on making some enquiry we were informed, that there was only the shadow of a ground for it in New Zealand. The instances of overtiming were so few, and within the remedy of the employe's, tliat it suemed superfluous to legislate in the matter ; and our readers are aware by this tiriie that the very parties for whose benefit the Victorian measure was passed, have petitioned for its suspension. We recollect of once hearing of a Scotch hostess, whom a b-md of pleasure-seekers sought to compel to furnish them with drink on the Sunday because travellers, who turned on her company by charging double for her drinks, and when remonstrated with, replied, "You forced me to sell, but there is no law regulating my price." So it hag been with the abridged hours of labor; the law cannot force a standard of prices, and the employes declare that an hour or two more per day will not hurt them. !Nofc warned by the failure in this direction, we see that Mr. Donald Reid ia going on with another law for the regulation of our mining inustries. We hope, in doing so, the vexatious spirit which has been displayed

by the coal miners in the old country is not about to be fostered by our lawmakers in New Zealand. Better far let the industries take proper root in the first instance, and if abuses creep in/ it will then be time enough for the Legislature to interfere. We fear that this meddling may burk instead of foster our industries. Why single out the mining ? Why not pass a law to regulate the price of the loaf, and compel the baker not to go beyond a certain price 1 Why not say to the farmer, You must give your men so much in wages, or what is equivalent, employ them so many hours a day, and only charge so much per bushel ? Why not bring the tailors to book, as it was in the days of that King of whom the old song says — In days when our King Robert rang. His trews they cost him half-a cioon. He said they were a gioat ow'r dear. And c;i"d the tailor thief and loon ? Why not go to our printers • and publishers of newspapers and say, You ought not to work an hour beyond a certain time, even although the Colonial Treasurer should keep the telegraph staff all night at work, and the people are eager to learn whether the burden of taxation is to be less or greater than it has been ? These are just as legitimate cases as those already initiated, only, we suppose, some busy idler has net yet peered iv these directions. Cannot the matter as to whether men be paid by weight or measure in mining be left to be settled by the contracting parties themselves ? Is there so little versatility in the colonial miner that he cannot, in the event of hi 3 not being suited, turn his hand to something else ? Are the openings for labor so few that he must needs starve if he gets no mining? Better, we say, allow the industries to take root, and leave these regulations, akin to sumptuary in matters of food, to the parties themselves. The only thing as yet that seems useful in the measure is an Inspector of Mines, so as to ensure the proper ventilation of mines, &g. ; but even that might be fairly left as yet to the parties interested. There is sufficient outlet to all our activities,- so that mon need not be forced to labor at a disadvantage. Until CSpItST gets in excess of labor, which is not yet our case, labor may be safely left to look after itself.

The sale by auction of 4080 acres of land on Captain Mackenzie's run, which has for some time past been advertised to take place on the 20th of this month, ha 3 been postponed till the 2nd of March. It would be difficult to tell what reason the Government have for this step. Let \v< hope it is to give them time to device some better method of disposing of ihe most valuable lands in the province than was adopted last week in the salo of 4067 acres on the same run, which was reported in our last issue. The selling of these lauds to capatalists at a price which but a momentary assistance t>> the province, aud deprives the bonafide setiler of a chance of miking f;>r himself a home in the country, can only he characterised as suicidal in the extreme. We ehall bo very glad to learn that the Government have withdrawn the land from sale by auction and decided on opening it upon the deferred payment principle.