The Wairarapa Daily TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3871, 28 July 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1891.

Several of our friends who have recently advertised bush-felling contracts inform us that they have been unable to obtain satisfactory tenders. One of them stated that he received a single offer, but the price was so high that he could not afford to accept it. Practically bush hands have at the present time as much work as they can do at as high rates as can possibly be paid. The natural economic law of supply and demand has brought their wages to the highest possible standard, for if they demand more than they are now receiving, owners of bush sections would be unable to employ labour without los 3. When two employers run after one man the labourer's wages rise, and when two men run after one job wages fall. This natural law always has regulated the rate of wages, and it is stronger than all the artificial laws which the new democracy endeavours to set up. On Wednes. day evening next Messrs Earnahaw Hogg, Mills and Pinkertoh, M.H.R's, are to address a meeting in this town, and no doubt their eloquence wil, suffice to show that wages may be regulated by artificial stimulants We venture, however, to back* the old economic law of supply and demand against all their schemes. If the case of bush labour be taken as

an illustration, we think it will be conceded that at the present time settlers are spending all the money they can on clearing their land, and that the men are getting every sixpence that is available. What then does the intervention of a body like the Knights of Labour or the counsel of Labour M.H.R's bring about? Simply that bushfallers are encouraged to join Associations, and a portion of their earnings has to be paid in to the common purse of the particular

socialistic organisation which takes tne bushiellers under its wing. This organisation receives a man's money and his vote, and gives him in return an eloquent speech in which a few impossible promises are included. We do not suppose that the M.H.R.'s who are coming up

here will harrow our souls by a aW ' cription of the destitution prevailing amongst working men in this district, for as a matter of fact they are at present in clover. Of course they haye not the privilege which the labour members possess of voting themselves £240 per annum, paid monthly, but on the whole they are fairly well to do, and they are unlikely to earn higher wages in the future than those which they are now leceiving, It they think they will it is open for them to try, but the inexorable law of supply and demand is like a brick wall in front of them. In America and in other communities where democracy prevails it has chattered the most ingenious projects for regulating the price of labour. We admit the success which bas attended the efforts of the Labour M.H.E.'s to feaiher their own nests, but we shall be astonished if they can in any way feather the nests of the people who have placed them in power. On the

regnire to pluck their admirers in order to keep tip their own supply of featbers. The one Bubject in which (the working men of Mastertoh are how taking a vivid interest is not the labeur question (this is rather regarded as a petty piece of political fireworks) but the licensing question. The M.H.R-'s from Wellington if they discuss this topic may do some good by their visit.