WAGES AND PRICES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 59, 8 March 1912, Page 4

WAGES AND PRICES.

Though we are by no means Inclined to take a pessimistic vitvw of the future of the Britiah worker, we believe that the gioomy comments of the Hon. A. £mmott, upon the wages question, as cabled to-day, are fully borne out by statistical evidence. Mr. Kmmott sees a close connection between the industrial unrest now pervading tireat Britain, and the recent rise- in food prices, take* in conjunction with the comparative failure of wages to respond to this upward movement. As to the rise in prices, it is, as we have often pointed out, -acrid-wide;, but it ha» been particularly noticeable in, England. A return .recently published by the Board of Trade shows that the prices of the necessaries, of life at Hove have risen just about ten per cent all round within the past tea years. The index numbers for this period show a decline in- general prices from 1900 to 1905, and since that year a sharp r,ise amounting to about 12 per cent in "all. It is notorious that wages have not risen as anything like the same proportion within the same time; and, as Mr. Eaunott argues, the natural consequence has'been a succession of disastrous industrial disputes and strikes. Daring 1911 the wholesale prices of the necessaries of life were higher than they had been for 25 years; and during 1911 also the number qf people involved in industrial conflicts was the highest ever recorded. In 864 disputes titers were concerned 931,000 workers, and no less than 10,347,000 working days were lost. The connection between the two series of facts is obvious, and it points, as Mr. Emmott suggests, to the urgent necessity for insisting upon some equitable proportion between the wages of Labour and it* needs.

There can be no doubt that the o,uestion of a just distribution of the wealth produced by the joint activity of Labour and Capital is the greatest practical problem that statesmen and governmenthave now to solve. But iit would b? a grave error to assert that the condition of things that we have described as existing at Home i» Tepeated iit. the same degree elsewhere, or is paralleled even remotely on this side ot the world. In New Zealand, at least, it is certain fchat the rate of wages in all our chief indus tries has been very considerably raised during the past decade by the Arbitration Court. And though lit i* true that

within the last tan yearn the inereeae in the supply of gold has raised prices for us as for all the rest of the world, it is. a great miataVr to imagine that the prim of the necessaries of life is, generally up—king, greater hoi* than it ww» say from tea to twenty years ago. And if we go back a quarter of a, century or more we find ample proof that the coat of living to-day is far less than it was before the Arbitration sjstem was thought of, and when the average rate of wages was much lower than the rate now ruling here. We are well aware that there is a strong impression to the contrary prevalent here; but it is based simply on ignorance of the tacts. Those of our readers who have any doubts on this subjects may be recommended to consult a list of prioes which we published a few days ago in our correspondence columns, showing the cost of the necessaries of life in 1877, 1894, and 189", as' compared with to-day. These figures, which have heen carefully compiled, and are absolutely authentic. show that in all the more important items the worker's bill of fare in 1897 represented an expenditure of 75 per cent more than to-day, though wages were not nearly so high then as now. Sugar, which costs 2£d. a lb. on the average to-day, cost 3d. in 1894, but 6d. in 1877. During the same period raisins have fallen from Bd. to sd. per lb, jam from lOd. to 4d., butter from 1/6 to 1/2, tea from 3/- (average) to 1/6, candles from 1/3 to 6d., flour from 22/to 13/- per hundred, and bread from 6d. to 3id. per loaf. Kven comparing 1897 with 1911, we find that in every single item mentioned there has been a reduction in price, except in butter. Meat and house rent have undoubtedly risen, the latter being affected by the increased cost of materials, the rise in the price of lanoV and in wages. To ascertain approximately the actual relation between wages .and cost of living in anv specified locality involves a consideration of many factors which may easily he overlooked in any cursory review of the subject.

The following is Mr. D. 0. Batesweather forecast for 24 hours from f> a.m. this day:—"Westerly winds, strong to gale, veering to southerly. Squally and misty. Expect unsettled and cloudy weather/ Rain probable: glass rue." Mr. J. T. Stevenson advises: "An improvement in the weather now exists: occasional showers may still be expected. but not of great duration; winds still strong hrtween west and south, wttn cooler weather."

A somewhat sensational accident occurred in Dunedin on Monday afternoon. A local medico was driving his car when a youth on a bicycle crossed over to his wrong side and collided with the car. The impact threw the cyclist forward in from of the motor car, and, in order to avoid running over him, the doctor swung hk car sharply to the '.ail and knocked down over ten feet of the iron fence work round the Triangle, and the machine was brought to a standstill by collision with a tree, in the grounds. The hoy escaped serious injury, and by the. prompt action taken in turning the-, car and taking a great risk himself there is no doubt tiie boy's limbs l and probably his life, were saved. Had the car struck one of the stronglystayed fence posts there is no telling what might have happened. The bicycle was compjeti iy wrecked.

Details were received by mail from Australia to-day of the murder at Corunna Downs, Western Australia, of ,an aboriginal .Lothario by jealous natives, .limruy waa a good-looking black, and he assumed such airs that three rivals—Sambo, Charlie, and Rodger—are stated to have formed an assassination conspiracy. They sent a lubra to lure Jimmy to a retired spot, where they awaited hiin with spears and Tomahawks. Sambo opened hostilities with a tomahawk, and followed up by twisting Jimmy's neck. The other two then finished him off with spears and stones, after which they dragged the corps* in triumph to the camp by a strap tied around its neck, and finally, when tired of the exhibition, buried it.

In view of the excellent performances of the Auckland rifleman, S. Elliott, at the Trentham rifle meeting, it might be of interest to note his past records. Elliott, who works in the stereotype department of the "Star," joined the Akarana Rifle Club a little over a year ago. Although he had done a lot of shooting with the miniature rifle and had won numerous trophies, having once been in the employ of W. H. Hazard as gunmaker, he was unknown at the butts and was put in the C grade. From C he passed up to B grade, in which he was when he went south this time. He could hardly be said to have given any indication of any performance much above the ordinary, in fact he took the trip more in the spirit of a holiday than with the expectation of match-winning. However, be comes back with the Auckland Match and the Trentham Aggregate, which, includes the Carbine Cup, to his credit. He also won numerous prises as a tyro. Elliott attended the Trentlham 'meeting last year, winning two £1 prises as a tyro.

Mr. P. Virtue has given notice of his intention to move at the next masting of the Auckland Harbour Board: "That the Auditor-General, having advised toe secretary that the Board's recent innovation of dispensing with receipts for wages is illegal, the Board now take immediate steps to rectify this anomaly." It was decided by the City Council last night to grant the application of the Remuera Road Board for permission to supply the Tamaki West Road Board with water at 1/4 per 1000 gallons, on the condition that the Council would be under uo reapoosibilTty if the main between Mount Bden and the Bemuera reservoir » of insufficient capacity to supply the increased demands. The study of wireless telegraphy has been followed in Christchurch for a considerable time by a number of amateurs. When details of the system became known, small wireless stations sprang up all over the city, and before long fully thirty houses, and mostly in the suburbs, were fitted with lofty aerials. The majority of the stations were- not high enough to be of any value for re ceiving messages, and none of them bad sufficient power to transmit messages over any distance. Although regulations were framed to control the rise of these station?, the Telegraph Department for some time did not move in the matter. Finally, the owner of one station indiscreetly mentioned a message he had received from the air. and at once orders vrere issued for the removal of all stations, except a few, for which permits were issued. Only four permits wen' granted by the Department in Christchurch, the lucky amateurs being officer* of the Department, and also are ol course bound by the regulations demanding that they should not divulge the contents of any message they may be able to decipher. That they can receive messages from a distance has been amply proved lately, one installation having intercepted a mauane sent from Sura,

A request for a twopenny minimum fere an special Renroera cans between 4J30 and 6.30 pan. came before the Cny Council last night. The Mayor, in supporting the proposition, Mid that Che Remuera people ha* the poorest traar service of any porti*ni of the city. Mr. 4- J- Entriean took up an opposition point of view, a ajl said there was a disposition to give away everything to the local bodies. To continue this policy, he contended, meant that the suburbs would have nothing to oome into the Greater Auckland scheme for. The Mayor reminded the Council that they were all citizens of Auckland, and that a minimum fare would have no bearing on the question of Greater Auckland. The matter was -ultimately referred back to a sub-committee.

It is somewhat remarkable chat notwithstanding the 'entente cordial?" between Britain and France, the latter country differentiates between mutton from British oversea dominions and that from the Argentine. British mutton has to pay nearly per lb duty, whilst that from the Argentine is only charged ljd—a very marked difference. Representations have already been made to tie French Government with a view to securing the benefit of the minimum tariff for frown mutton imported into France from Australia and New Zealand, and it is expected that these representations will have the desired effect. It is probably only a question of time when meat from abroad will be received in France duty free, as the country cannot Supply her population with meat, tf;e relish for which is becoming more universal since rroien meat has been introduced.

The Electric Committee of the City Council recommended, last night, that the application of the Tramway Company for the supply of pomr be agreed to, subject to the price being 1.3d. per unit for the first 500,000 units, M. per unit for any additional units less the ordinary cash discount of 2i per cent, with a minimum of 500,000 units per annum, whether used or not

Fruitgrowers in the Albany district have suffered heavy losses throujrh the damage done in orchards by the recent heavy rains, the loss being especially severe among peach growers. This, coupled with the extremely low price of fruit, means a bad season for manv orcharding and should cause combination with a view to establishing canneries to/ deal with such conditions.—Albany correspondent.

Sir Arthur Guinness does not think very highly of "Hansard" as a Parliamentary record. He referred to the system of revision of speeches prevailing, and said that some members had a habit ol altering the reports of their speeches so that "Hansard" did not convey what was really said. But its worst offence, in Sir Arthur's eyes, was that it encouraged members to talk so that theii speeches night be reported! and circulated among their constituents. Some little diversity of opinion developed among the City Fathers last night over an inquiry by the Northern Boxing Association as to on what dates the Town Hall would be available to them for their boxing carnivals throughout the ensuing year. Several councillors demurred at the letting of the hail for boxing maitches, whi'e others contended that boxing associations were permitted the use of town halls in other cities. Mr. Dickson moved that the Association be

allowed the use of the hall on the usual terms, but it was ultimately decided to refer .(he matter, to .the Walks Committee. Mr. Entricau's suggestion that a special committee be. set up to deal with ■the letting of the Town Hall, in view of the growth of this branch of the Council's business, was apparently welcomed by most of the Council, and it was tacitly agreed that further consideration should be given the proposal!

A complaint has been made, to the Victorian Minister for Trade and* Customs that, owing to the lack of shipping facilities, New Zealand Is reaping the

benefit of Australia's pioneering work. Under present conditions, said a Victorian merchant who is going on business to Canada, Australia, has to be consent with Xew Zealand's leavings. With regard to refrigerating space, no butter bad been shipped since the discontinuance of the Sydney-Vancouver service last year. The Minister indicated the probability of an early agreement 'between Canada and Australia on the subject of a reciprocal tariff, and negotiations had already been.opened, as the urgency of the question was fully recognised.

Picnic parties should be careful where they go to spend, their holiday. A Wellington merchant was sued for damage (£5) to private property by trespassing on it to hold a picnic. He paid half-a-crown into court in full satisfaction. The facta, were the defendant had been in the habit, for several years past, of making the spot a pkmc rendeajrous, and no objection had ever been raised before But the property had since changed hands and the owner objected to trespassers. The Magistrate said defendant •had been guilty of a technical act of trespass. He should have got permission before goinjr on the property. Judgment was given for 20/ with costs.

The Remuera Road Board held a special meeting yesterday afternoon in the offices of Messrs Russell and Campbell, for the purpose of signing and sealing the agreement with the AucklanJ Tramway Company for the proposed extensions to Mountain-road and Victoria Avenue. This meeting has the effect of completing the preliminary details agreed upon during the recent visit ofche chairman of the Company. It has been provided that no extra charge for fares be taade to Mountain-road, but on the Victoria-avenue extension the fare will be one penny. An Order-in-Council is yet required to authorise the work. •When that is granted, however, the extension will be commenced immediately and :t is expected to 'be completed on or ibefo.e June 30 next year. The membera of the Board present at the meeting were Messrs C. A. Cawfrwell (chairman), J. S. mckson, A. G. PHkington, and P. Spencer.

Major-General Godley was waited upon at Wellington yesterday afternoon by a deputation of about a dozen representatives of the various rifle chrbs. General Godley expressed his willingness to help the cUrtu. The question of the bull's-eye target was discussed, and the Commandant said he would consider the whole matter. The men expressed themselves quite satisfied with the result of the interview. In reply to representations made as to shortage of rifles at present, the Commandant said that the territorials mil.-' be armed first, but he would cable to Kngland for more rifles fn r the clubs. The question of altering the constitution of the association, with a view to allowing competitor* to be members of thp executive, was <ri*cnssed General Godley promised to consider the matter. He pointedr'out that it was desired to have shootin? which would be of definite milita-rv value. Conrndefation would also he jrivcn to the question of runninp two chsnrpionsllrp meetings, one for fixed tareets, and ttie other for the service matches.

At the New South Wales Conference, some which showed how £ ?f here «■.*• South Hdfc*3M n. tox, a missionary fro* viU v d !*• 5 submitted a recom^at^3"«•* I it was a German colony the XfciK * nussion there should be tauJSsP* the Methodist Episcopal fflft&f: many He said the German «ueZ«t New Bnta.n was a most ifcporU.7* for there was a strong °?* tion and it was work into hne wjth German p.ople. 1„ lne n *J g* | cause of probable official ohaMea7,£ were likely to be face to iacf3Sßff purely German set of cireiinuttolL * noticeable fact was that v hold on trade was dimimshinf. cKw the largest firm—an English Oae™!,?] just sold out, Tht Germa* secret that they were ghvl u* aaSS it was always looked upon as inV tmder. The position of the an acute one, and definite tram statu be taken to settle it, !

In the course of an addrew at aatai held in Sydnev to eelebiate the teaSE!' ation of the Chinese Republic, Mr j£L Chuey, the President of the JSHB! League in },>w Soath Wales, sail u!t for 20 years he had been CoaAsJs*«3 to a big city firm from 4V wool-growers in the southern titUM. and he was happy to say that 1 tht tm was quick to see in the new atimZ Government in China possibilities sfi, imnwnsp wool market for a pomlatU of 43n.nO0.iKKf people.! The firm him to make all necessary UUIttSl tions to the new Chinese GocmbsW and to supply particulars of and wool produced in Australia, -Ha) at intended doing, and hoped it wesM it suit in the establishment of a ■**?k. portant trade with China. ■ '..ii. - -

The Fijian* prophesy d«ittC3jW^ cording to Rev. \v. Dnane. of ths, (list Foreign Missionary Society fat M. n*%» last w~»k. a native near*/ dies once he has propheried In ow* «*t There was a woman, the miMtaMly Mid. who said she was about to die. AsfS ans always pot on dean rlnfWi eij_ they are going to die, and tto wen** asked her husband to bring ftsr a ems garment. The husband pMil ■,% first garment he found sad east n' to her. The woman donned it, ttef* fc»self prostrate, and peneef&uy deal far eyes. A little later, Mtitmn sat) *tt< corpse moves," could he awfan &* body, he asked. Tne hsafcaed and it wis found that the wmsas m alive. "Why did yon coma ft**!" a, was asked. Her reply was: T edalHlt go to Heaven in my ImabandV ■SfjP

A well-known Alpine dhnesr, tfY Samuel Turner, between Hat sad'tNt February, successfully climbed Mn* Eli de Beaumont, Mount Green, Mts* Walter, and Mount Cook, via GneA route. This is a splendid wsekVneui Mr. Turner had a unique viejr frosilt) summit of Mount Cook. His party hj eluded a Maori, who was ths first attfcv to -ascend Mount Cook. He it gajy V v years old, but is a fine npsuini j if Mi race. Green's route has not btndM since the Rev. Mr. Green afaaost mesa the summit some twenty yean apt An old document was quoted ai i special meeting of the Grey If* Borough Ouncil last night is enejs tion with three streets at RietMßi It arose from a request by Muni Rich and Dimery to hers. Vistaris' street dedicated as a public read, tkf offering to give s strip of las* Mel ' dent to widen- it to SWt Met <st centre. The Borough solicitors, lewre. ' Reed and Bailey, quoted * deed 4 toted 1859. in which the vendor of tasked, one Michael Woods, gave a' MB way over Queen, Victoria, and &► streets. The solicitors r*hrtei -p that that did net dedicate ths VieWfestreet Mr. G. J. Garland aaii Itsw evident ths old-tashisnad deed eastt meant to dedicate ths sbeeta "''*KH. ; . time. Mr. Garland contesfttAfc street should be dedicated if it srsetlt done legally. t It was agreed ***** Borough solicitor to advise ■»» flgf . to be adopted to dedieets Vwm> King, and Queen-streeto. The T>i"*nP" wsterrinW ' ! wsrk*!f ;!■* resolved to take no further '*&?* regards the large new baad 2*J'f!!2 for their convenience, sad »f;-:»l nutted their intention of not sse*W| it They eonsider thnt ths MM hour Board has broken faith ™t"Jg in taking s greater part for new offices than was o ?&*£zJ't vided in the plans and The first intention was to solerr for ths workers sfc a •g©*; £2OOO, but the piano were yggPi and finally ths hnSsing wfll 0»*f» | £4OOO, and the Board then det«e ■<: 1 take part of it for ris <Z**£sSl offices It is ths part whrnV*'-** has decided to take,. which„.l|si,.«g the trouble with the woikew_J™* alterations required, to t»«n«r-lp«-. to mats it suitable for'offices *# "S aboat f-12001 snd when that *<«** completed the whole Wj H absorbed considerably the original intention fo* wlucn .llr*" j erected has been defeated WWM { which the workers ha-vs ssiipf.^ taking. The Auckland Benefit ***«&*£ .1 Society will tender at the j evening a concert in aid nW|B family. A first-class presented by leading artists, * B effort has been made to ensure The rainfall figures for this * q tained from Mr Cheeseman, «"•£.£ the Museum, already total *-W The foUowing axe the daily record!|*sp at nine o'clock each morning. ing the total for the previoUSS*"*** -Sunday, March 3rd, .90, Tuesday 1.13, Wednesday t£j?gffl .33, Friday .46. The total ffgnre »r« month last year was 2.32 VStbtf-.-y-s-The Bartlett (WSDJMBSt **^£i at the Bathurst Government »*«■»» this year has proved saV the Sydney "Daily **gg A total of 157 »e°*>^ x ' and a-half acres, yielded 781JJg cases, or an average of nearly per tree. As the frnit w«ol quality, splendid pr.«s the amounts received 6/6 to 13/- per ca-e, and „ average of 9/- pet »**£»s% freight and commission, and tree, or a gross averageJ*J"|jp £156 4/-. These returns are est yet received from this fruit, the next best bemg 35/- P* £ from a five-bushel per tree years ago. Last year the not so satisfactorj', and the return.,.. so heavy. | Men's and hoys" raincoat,, oil** and ! macs- r , Bridgpman s sale. Open laie -» g

!* Kour only. excJusrve ftm ***** § ~.»»« were S snrneaa, now emt r* ak STJZ at our W. 2SSB I 9 aJ n. to-morrow.-Grcy and- M^BB* Newton.—(Ad.) . n. The famous Itolyn ways in stock. Smith attd C»U«Btf »~