THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1902. THE MILL-HANDS' DEMANDS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 224, 3 July 1902, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1902. THE MILL-HANDS' DEMANDS.

Sxnok tiie passing of the Imlustrial, Conciliation ami Arbitration

Act, New Zealand has been more or less in a state of Industrial unrest. The old “strike” gave place to a more simple method' which placed the balance of' power in the hands of the workers, the idea of Mr W. P. Reeves in introducing the measure being

to put a stop to strikes and lock* outs, 'by’enabling employers and employees to meet and discuss the question of wages and hours so as to give to each his just due. All who have followed the working of the Act know that there has been little, if any, attempt at conciliation, but that so-called “disputes” are taken direct to the Arbitiation Court. However, it is not altogether on this aspect of il.e question that we now desire to draw attention, but with the demands of the mill, hands as a text, to say a few words tn ihe effect of the increase in wages and the other concessions which have been obtained during the last few years.

In a country like New Zealand it was inevitable that competition for trade should at first be very keen, ami that as a result of this prices fell, and with them the wages, which steadily went down as the population increased, preserving the natmal relation between supply and demand. But with growth of manufactures and the cutting up of the large estates and the withdrawal of a laige number of employed to the ranks of the employers, there was naturally a tendency to increase wages. The feeding of bitterness engendered by strikes was inimical to the best interests of the community, and the Act referred to was passed with a view to safeguarding the interests of all parties. It was not expected that the Act would be used where there was a chance of conciliation, but, to the dismay o: its promoters and supporters, its provisions have been taken full advantage of and a highlypaid Court is doing nothing else but racing over the length, and breadth of the islands trying to overtake the volume of work being presented to if. When a clearance seems to have been made some of the awards have expired and the court meets to adjudicate on a higher demand.

L ;fc us see what effect the Act has ha'3 on the general community. Formerly, when competition was said to be the life of trade, manufacturers who were under a moderate wage-sheet, strove to out-do others in producing the best article at the lowest price, being seconded by the middleman. But when wages were forced up in every direction, the manufacturers and retailers, taking a lesson from their workpeople, saw that their only hope lay in combination, and, though in some cases tardily, they met and agreed to sell at a certain price. This, naturally enough, was seized on as a golden opportunity to put prices up to a figure at which they would pay well and so, in consequence of a ten per cent rise in wages, twenty-five per cent, and in many instances more, was clapped on to the products. The non-producer, who is compelled to purchase or do without, fin is (hat although he handles more money it has no greater purchasing power than the smaller wage. This has been the position up to date, .but now in the near future another, demand is foreseen —that of the increase in the demands on the farming community, which has all along had to bear the increased burden

consequent on an increase in the necessaries of life on Uie market rate of products. No matter to what depths we pierce there is bound to be bed-rock sooner or later, and on this question we believe the bed-rock is thefarmer. We have shown that the rise of wages simply meant an increase in prices by those \\ ho have that power, but when a man must meet additional expense without a corresponding increase of profits there are only tw'' possibilities—either he must already be making sufficient to meet the demands and is unjustly grinding the face of the wage-earner, or that his profits will not stand the drain and he will have to close down, We are, of course, premising that if the increased award is made against the tnillowner he, v will pass it'on to' the farmer and so be, if anything, a little better off than before. As to the first possibility whether the farmer is making more than his deserts, that is not worth discussing with? out asking the same about every trade and business. The hulk of the small farms are in the position of small businesses-—they pay a little uvei wages and-assure the

oN vner of permanent work, it is 0 „ly when we reach huge e-tate P ,i huge businesses time (here m J chance of making a very grout margin- Then, .he I'" ' sold in open market, and tut price is fixed for the pr-e'iuvr, not by him, so that no plea m additional expenditure will avail him. A U he can do if the presuro becomes too heavy is to alter the form of bis produce, and instead 0 f growing grain go in lor dairy - ing or raising stock. This would jo the course of time bring grain to such a price that it would meet the demands on it, while the dairying and cattle-raising industries would be over exploited, I ic that people would pay more dearly for their daily bread and gave something on the batter. Tho whole business is a gigantic geo-saw, with A. trying to get more than 0., and B. doing all he knows to outdo C., and unless

sumo fairly permanent arrangemont is arrivinl at the prospects in front of all classes arc not very brightill regard to the present demand, it seems to be the general opinion that although the bushel system is the better one, the work is worth a shilling an hour, but that to be “ found ” and pay for shifts is unreasonable. It is also said that this season—one of the worst for years—failcheques were made by mill hands, and that speaking generally they are satisfied to let things remain as they are. It is also urged that threshing machine owners can well afford to pay the demands without adding to the present price of threshing, but these are questions for practical men to decide, and will probably be well debated at the Court.