THE PRACTICABILITY WANTED

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 154, 1 July 1901, Page 2

THE PRACTICABILITY WANTED

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —The question I asked "Earnest Hope"' was precise and easily understood. I had hoped he would have given it a definite reply. The question was: "Is it practicable to give, either by legislation or voluntarily, youths of Ifi and over £2 4/ per week" for 44 hours' work per week as a minimum wage? What industry could do so, or what business?" The poor tiller of the soil is a reality, no bogey. Generally speaking, his poverty is as real as his arduous work. "Enquirer" had not only these in his. mind, but the thousands of tradesmen on whom the community too often places its sins of omission to pay reasonable prices, conform to reasonable hours, and to carry a burden of bad debts. The bulk of these are only bosses in name, useful on pay nights, and to bear the burden of financial responsibility placed upon them by onje-sided legislation.—by a Government professing "equal rights." My enquiry was not directed to the "■future in the distance," bait the now, and I should have been pleased had "E. H." addressed himself to that phase of the subject. As to the needs for Representative Government I thoroughly agree with him, but think that nineteen-twentieths of the community have not the slightest interest in the matter. So long as they are convinced that the Seddon Government can give easy times to the workers they would favour his assumption of dictatorship; they don't bother about such trivialties as true Representative Government. But this is outside the question how to give boys 44/ per week of 44 hours? —I am, etc,

ENQUIRER.