The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MAY 2, 1890. The Progress of the Movement.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3525, 2 June 1890, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MAY 2, 1890. The Progress of the Movement.

The Evening Post, in its last issue, reported the progress of sundry labor difficulties, viz, "-the tailoresses log dispute," " the Marine officers demaud,"" the tramway brake,"" the ironworkers trouble," " the wharf carters whip,", "the painters programme," and '■ the railway servants strike." In many of these little agitations the übiquitous 1). P. Fisber bobs up serenely, and we. in the country are beginning to wonder what particular Fisher it is. that carries so much sail. Out friends at the Evening Press might devote their next lithographed supplement to depicting the portrait, and reciting tho Liat6ry of this remarkablo individual. Thore are apparently two men in New Zealand, tho Premier, amHD, P, Fisher, and while we know all about the powers of the former, we are profoundly ignorant of the record of the latter, The labor wave seems to bo making its, way all along the line, and though we in the country are not directly affected by it, we yet have an interest in it, as the all round advance of jgpges which will probably be its outcome, will alter the conditians under which we exist, We shall have to pay more for our stores, we shall have to pay higher charges on the goods we send away, and our own labor market will be disturbed in muoh. the

same way as. tho Victorian market has been by a similar agitation. In Melbourne an all round advance in wages h&3 had the effect of drawing labor from the country into the town. The Victorian farmer when be wants labor has usually to pray for it, If a ploughman is required the farmer considers himself lucky if he can get a good man at ten shillings a day. The stream of labor runs straight to the big town whero high wages are paid and the country is doploted of its proper population, The growth of Melbourne i? admittedly out of all proportion to tlio development of the country at its-back' and the Government are compelled to give bonuses to the agricultural interests to keep tbcm from languishing. The farmers of Victoria following the example of the laborers in the towns havo a league wbioh extends throughout the colony and which exerts pufljeiept influence on tho legislation to secure ponpejijojis which enable persons engaged in pursuits to live, For example they force the stato to give them special facil-

ities on the Government railway; A Victorian farmer for five shillings can travel twice .as far as a New Zealand farmer can journey for ten shillings. It is of course a question f«s to how Jotjg »wealthy colony like Victoria can stand tho pposed upod it" by the labor unions in the towns and the farmers Jeaguo in the country, The colony is in a very artificial condition, which probably can only bo maintained by a liboral expenditureof borrowfd money, Tho tendency in New Zealand now is to follow the example of Victoria, The towns ore giving a lead, and sooner or Iflter to counteract their

influence, tho country (ijivp tp unite to protect agriculural interests. While our railways were being coustrueted farmers' sons would not stay at liorae and work on the land'when they could go out and earn on the lines, soven 6r eight shillings a day, and the work of clearing and improving Jand was actually rortarded by tho ejdstene,e of- largo public works offering high wAges. Wherever hjgh rates for jijbpraii paid there will mou con-

grogata j and tlib' general ri«&. of priceß for lobtoV nbff taking p]Sse in Wellingtoii.will inevitably draw, labor «wiy from, |liis district,; Tho.-. immediate effect will be to stimulate

trade iu Wellington at tlio expense of the country, and this at a time when it is generallyadmitted that the prosperity of .the colony will be beat assured by land scttleniont.

We have abstained from comment ing ontho vory palpable error of 1 judgment the Masterton School Com- 1 mittce made in recommending a school site to the Board, because we thought the difficulty .would be intensified by outside interference, but our local contemporary-has made in his last issue some statements on the question wliioli ought not to be allowed- to pass unchallenged, We will pass over his misleading assertion that a certain site (Mr Woodrooffe's aore), was recommended by four votes to two, but his contention that the ohairman of the Board has been hoaxed by wild and unfounded representations with-respect, to it is an utter absurdity. Three;years ago Mr Blair made a caroful .personai inspection of this site,' He lias been m the habit, in his offioial capacity, ! of examining school sites in all parts ■ of. the ,Educational distriot, and ' probably''no shrewder and better judge of this particular class of -, property can be found within it. The ' opinion expressed by Mr Blair on the 1 Hall-street site is' -undoubtedly his . own : unbiassed judgment, and wo think a very large number of persons in this community will regard it as a , sound one, As to the question of the [' ,cost of filling, the evidence is conflicting. Our local contemporary . puts it down at from £lO to £l2, a competent engineer has estimated it at £7O, and Mr Blair believes it will cost £IOO. Wo are quite certain - that, on this point Mr Blair is far nearer the mark than our local oon- .' temporary.' . ■ ■ .