Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] MONDAY, APRIL 16, 1894. THE RULE OF LIVING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4696, 16 April 1894, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] MONDAY, APRIL 16, 1894. THE RULE OF LIVING.

In New Zealand the rule of living for the working man is that undei which he can best thrive, Tested by this rule many of the new principles advocated are worthless and mischievous. We notice the Evmirig Post points out in an articleon Saturday last that the co-operative principle ie autagonistio to the Trade Union principle. So far we agree with our contemporary, but the latfcr does not go far enough because it does not say which principle is right and which is wrong. Toourmind both principles, according to the test we have laid down, are wrong. Under the co-operative principle wo assume that A. B. and C, according to their several abilities, earn blx, seven and eight shillings per diem respectively, and so far the principle is good, but co-operative labour has proved to be a loss to the employsr because among other reasons the work done takes too long in doing. Now, work which doeß not prove profitable to an employer oannot last. It may be bolstered up for a time by political influences, but it must in time die out, When the co-operative labourer cuts down profits he cuts away the labour on which he depends, and what is the use of co-operative workmen without work 1 Ask a score of men at Eketahuna and each man will say that his last state is worse than bis first! The co-operative principle is wrong for Now Zealanders, and the Trades Union principle is worse! Under the latter A. K.and C.,who are worth respectively six shillings, seven shillings, and eight shillings per diem must receive a uniform wage. As Trades Unionists " level up" in the mutter of wages,we may asßumo that each would have to be paid eight shil- . iings, What is the result: whenwoik is Black, A., who is worth but six shillings is dismissed ; 8,, at seven shillings keeps on at half lime; and only 0., at eisht can hold his own. In this way Trades.Unionism breeds' poverty and distress! The rule of living for the working man in New Zealand is a simplo one which bears the test of fifty years of successful trial. Hejnust lake his coat off] and earn every shilling he can, working (Where he likes, when he likes, and at any wages he can get. His worst enemies are the Trade Unions, whioh Bay to him, " Put on your coat, you are earning a shilling a day too little," and the Co-operative Swag' ger Association, which says, "Knock off, you are earning a shilling a day 100 much," We arc sick of the new principles. The men we see primed and loaded with tbem make bad wages, but the men, who are selfreliant and have nothing to do with! them, mako good wages I Trade Unions and Cooperation make a working man's career in this colony an" ohstaole race," Labour is only . plentiful iua community when itoanbe done on termß profitable to employers. Employment, whether State, municipal or private, breaks down' when i done.atalosa to the employer, and for this reason the co-operative railp way works on the present system must break down. Free contract between employer and employe is the only rule that has stood the tost of experionco in this colony.. If the unemployed difficulty is to bo solved it 1 will be done by eaoh employer purchasing biß labour as cheaply as he can, and each employe selling bis ' labour as dearly as he can. Tfc is on these lines'that the wealth of the colony has been built up, and it is only on these lines that it can continue to increase.' Liberal principles are all very well, but if they are antagonistic to the welfare of the working man, if they are dead against common sense, if they go contrary to the experience of fifty years of colonisation they ought to donod. Wo affirm that the principles of Trades Unions and Cooperative labour are. wrong an^'aisohie'vous, Tb»ttj|ey ar« antijjfo'niitio to 'ewb,

other is fairly [.roved by the Ewming Pott', hi: m would like our oontem [jerary togoa little further, and say which.principle it Kol'di .to, be sound. We trust that, like ourselves, it disapprove of both, but if ibis be the ease why does it not say so?