THE WORLD TO-DAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8726, 27 November 1913, Page 6

THE WORLD TO-DAY.

"Guardian" Office,

November 27, 1913,

In the United States during the last few years, there has arisen a new relation between employer and employee. In the past it was considered an employer had observed his obligation to society if he paid his workpeople regularly and made no.attempt to ■reduce, wages below the recognised,, scale of the trade. Having done that he had done all that was required of him.. It was no concern of his to lighten the burden of the toiler, to encourage 'in him habits of thrift or saving, to give him better or more attractive surroundings. The relations between master and mail were on' the basis of an implied contract of so much work to be performed for so many dollars to^. be paid. The man having rendered . his service and received his payment, the contract was satisfied, and the master cared,, no more what the man did wit'i his money than the man cared whether his master played cards or went to, churchy■■; There have always been, ;of course, a few employers - who took a paternal interest in their hands and endeavoured to improve their condition, but these- were the, exception; and as the individual proprietor^? gaveway to the joint stock company with its officers and directors often remote from the scene of operations, and having no personal contact with the men in the factory or shop, the relations between employer and employee became more , hardened into payment made for services rendered and indifference . as to the duty of the company to the men and women on whom it depended. /