WORKERS AND STRIKES.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14854, 20 December 1913, Page 14

WORKERS AND STRIKES.

TO THE EDITOR OP "THE PRESS." Sir—During the last few weeks labour troubles have occupied a large

share of public attention, and tho statement has several times been made that the workers havo better wages and conditions in this country than elsewhere. Ido not doubt the truth of this statement, but would liko to point out exactly what these wages must provide, and to ask if such can be justly called a living wage. 1 think you will agree that a wage should be sufficient to supply parents and four or five children with »!■*'< of gocd plain food, a decent house, enough clothes without being glad to make up the discarded garments of friends', and medical attention when necessary. Tho wages paid to many thousands of worriers are between £2 10s and £3 a week. In this caso the weekly wage averages £2 16s a week, and two adults and six children have to be provided for. By being very careful wo managed to start buying a house when the number of children was only three, and got along nicely for a few years, but slackness of work, together with tlio fact that the family was then double the number, compelled us to cease the instalments and be thankful to bo able to meet interest when duo. This is how the money is disposed of: —Rates, interest and insurance, 10s; 24 meals a day at 2d per head, 28s a week; firing aud lighting, -Is; clothes and boots, Is each per week. 8s; total £2 10s, leaving 6s a week to replace houso linen, linoleums, curtains, etc., also to keep cycle in running order, purchase school books, pay "union subscriptions, _ daily paper, medical expenses. Nothing is spent on tobacco, strong drink, or amusements, and the garden provides sufficient vegetables, with the exception of old potatoes, and grocery cash coupons replace all kitchen tinware, pots, brooms, and crockery. I think all will agree with mo that there is nothing to waste in theso cirenra- j stances, but I am pleased to say that other than the mortgage on the house, not ono penny is owing to anyono. Just at this time of the year, commonly known as tho "festive season," when the sloops are full of pretty and useful articles, what is there out of such a sum to provide a few extras and gifts for tho small folks. ' Yet this is the j lot of not only myself, but very many thousands besides, and somo havo even less. What must bo the position of tho many who havo been affected by the strike it is hard to say, but it must be in many cases very sad? It is to be hoped that the workers will not allow themselves to be deceived by the agitator, who is untiring in his condemnation of the capitalist and * nonproducer, and yet finds it more to his advantage to cease from being a producer in the proper sense and become only a mischief-maker, bringing trouble on* those who have trusted him, and, on whose wages he flourishes, doing more harm in a fewweeks than all those persons who in his eves are so deserving of blame. 'Still it must be admitted that such a wage is really not sufficient to bring up a family in a fitting way, and it is bocause the worker feels that be is m such adverse circumstances and that there is such an amount of wealth in the world, . and that -so many have moro than is necessary that he so easily becomes a prey to the agitator. It is to be hoped that this strike will show these in our country what has been learned in older countries by the true friends of Labour, that of all strikes the sympathetic strike is the most foolish and useless. There is always sympathy for those who wish to better their position, but for those who hope to force their fellows to their way of thinking by stopping work "there can be no pity.—Yours, etc.. _ MATER.