THE WAGES QUESTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2347, 26 July 1887, Page 2

THE WAGES QUESTION.

TO TUK RUITOB. Sir,— When I wrote on the above, question, I was quite aware that I would be trading on some one’s sore toe. Mr H. Blackwell says I am harping on my old theme, “ starvation wages.” I still contend that, if he is a platelayer, that os per day is as much as his labour is worth, and if he is an ordinary farm labourer, 4s per day is as much as lie earns. It does not matter how little or how extensive my knowledge of New Zealand is, there is one thing that I am convinced of, and that is until labour is sufficiently low to allow manufactories to exist in our midst, so long will there be a scarcity of labour, and men will be constantly out of employment. I have very often heard fanners say that they cannot afford to pay 5s or (Is pec day, and that it is better for themfto let the land grow what grass it will than to go into cropping. 1 do not hesitate to say that if farmers and manufacturers could get labour at : ls per day that the former would employ twice as much, and that the manufacturers would establish manufactories in the various centres of population, thereby giving regular employment to a largo number of people, and instead of our boys and girls growing up in idleness they would be enabled to get constant employment.

As regards my “ vegetating ” in the Waikato, I think, Sir, if H. 11. would grow a fevy ipore vegetables it would be far better for his digestion, I am very sorry to say thaf: tl)e farmer with the high price of labour and the low price of farm produce it nut able to get many “luxuries,” but if he intends not to become a bankrupt ho has to be far more economical than if lie was receiving his daily wage. II B. says something about “ blood shedding.” Well. Air Kditor, I would advise him to commence to organize at once, for labour is bound to come down, and I have no doubt that H. 8., having snail a very extensive knowledge, will be chased by the labourers for their genera), and that all such generals as Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington will be quite eclipsed by H. B.

Jho letter clause of IT. P.’s letter reminds mo oi a letter that appeared in your valuable paper a short time since from the able pen of Mr Cwynneth, where ho advised the disfranchisement of thp Civil scr-

vants, and f cordially agree with him, for the Civil servants are become so numerous that they can materially alter the election, a;>d as paid men they will vote against any Government that goes in for retrenchment. —Yours truly, Live and Let Live.