The Press. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1868.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1613, 9 January 1868, Page 2

The Press. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1868.

Pttbsutng the subject of yesterday, there is another calamity likely to arise out of the present system of working Trades Unions in England. The pride of the English workman has beeu his superior skill. It hae often been said that whilst inferior in inventiveness, ingenuity, and originality, the British artiean has no rival as a workman. Now, skill and its reward act and react upon one another by a law of our nature. The man whose skill pf oducee no more honour, comfort, or wealth than his neighbours ■will flag in exertion. On the other hand, if he tires in his exertion his right hand loses its cunning ; he loses his skill or does not rise to that higher grade of which he was capable. Now the tendency of the Trades Union rules is to treat- all men of the trade, strong and weak, skilled and unskilled, alike. No piecework, no o*er-hours, nothing by which one man shall produce more work than his neighbours; and so get more pay. The conclusion of all this is patent, nor will the result be long coming. Aβ capital will resort to localities where it is

moat protected, so pre-eminence in labouring skill will be the possession of that people only by which it is honoured aiid rewarded. England has, on her own soil, and written in her own history, more than one instance of how she has gained productive skill and power from foreigners, whom blind policy and brutal laws drove from their own lands. The story may yet be reversed; and when the most skilful of the British workmen find J that by going to other countries they can receive £ higher wage, they will sooner or later take their skill to the best market. And not only will the best workmen go, but those who remain, living under a system in which mediocrity of reward is the law will reflect the folly of such a rule by mediocrity of skill and capacity. The British workman will go down in the scale. "We know of course what the Trades Unions aim at. We admit that much in their aim and purpose is noble; but no end can be attained by violating the immutable laws of human nature, by which human society is governed, whether it wishes to be bo

or not The Trades Unions proceed on the idea that by curtailing production price is kept up. And by assigning a limit to the effective work of each man there will be more workmen required, and so the wages fund will be divided more equally amongst the whole, trade. So far as such a rule ia adopted by common consent there is something singularly noble in its unselfishness and brotherhood. All honour to the object and to the men who would attain it. All we say is that the object is not attainable by such means. And it is amazing how the very class who were so eager to see free trade introduced into our commercial system, and who appeared to understand so well the benefits to be derived from free trade, should be blind to the truth that identically the same laws must apply to the trade in labour as to any other trade. The truth is that to hope to attain any useful end by limiting production—in other words by setting a premium on laziness and unskillfulness —is to expect that nature can be propitiated by violating all her laws. That nation will be the richest which makes the i most wealth, and the more wealth, a nation possesses, the better it will be able to pay those who create it. Whether it will pay them better or not depends on whether trade and labour are free or not. If artificial restrictions are imposed on the laws of supply and demand, it is not easy to see how the results of the wealth created will be divided among the different classes. But we may say with confidence that the labourer will be far the best off where the whole of the trade between labour and capital are entirely unrestricted. There is a curious inconsistency between the Trades Union doctrines and the rest of our commercial system. We apply the system of free trade to our goods, which by the competition of the market always tend to the lowest price. But we are told that the free trade system ought not to be applied to the labour by which these goods were made, and which are the principal part of their cost. Surely if the price of labour is to be maintained by artificial rules (whether made by Governments or Trades Unions, the effect is the same), the price of the goods, which produce the wages fund out of which the labourer is paid, should be subject to certified rules at the same time. So far as we can see there is but one final and satisfactory solution of the labour question. There is one, but the world is a long way from adopting it at present. There is a distant promise of it in the few cases in which companies have been formed by workmen, thus combining the labour and capital in the persons. When labour is paid by a share of the profits, disputes between labour and capital will be settled. In some parts of the coast of England it is common for a capitalist to find a boat and nets, and to let it to the fishermen on shares; that is, each man gets one share and the boat gets so many shares of the produce. The labour here shares the whole produce with the capital. Much might be written on this view of the possible future of the labour question. But this is directly opposed to the whole doctrine of the Trade Unions.

Kaiapoi Regatta.—This regatta took place yesterday. The principal event, the Kaiapoi Cup, was won by the Lurline. Wβ will give a full report in to-morrow's issue.

Coxbe's Gabdehs.—The select ball that was to have been held last night at the above gardens did not take place in consequence of the unfavourable state of the weather.

. Thk Wbathbb. —As might have been expected after the thunderstorm of Tuesday, the weather lias been extremely unsettled, nor do we look,for any decided improvement for the next week. The Avon, which rose suddenly on Tuesday, had fallen several inches yesterday morning.

COMPMTTITB FIBINO POE THE COMNIAL Peizbs. —Owing to the inclemency of the weather on Tuesday the competitive firing for the Government prizes has been postponed to some future day, of which due notice will be given. Calcutta Sweep.—The Hit of subscribers for the £500 Calcutta sweep for the Canterbury Cap is rapidly filling up, nearly 300 names having already been obtained. The horses will be balloted for on Friday, and intending subscribers have therefore no time to lose. Lists will be found at the principal hotels both in town and country. Ukitbd Pbayrb Meeting-.—The united prayer meeting of all denominations was held last' evening in the Wesleyan schoolroom, Durham street. The meeting was presided over by the Rev. T. Buddie, and during the evening the Rev. Mr McFie addressed those present. Very few persons attended. Avoir Road Board.—The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Avon district was held on Tuesday, at the office of the Boad Board, for the purpose of electing members in the place of those retiring. Messrs Khodes, Cutler, Pbilpot, , and Lame were proposed. The show of hands was in favour of Messrs Cutler and Lame, whereupon Mr Philpot demanded a poll, which was taken immediately and ended in the return of Messrs Cutler and Lame. Cheistiak KsowxßoeK Society. —We would remind members that the annunl meeting will be held in the City Council Chamber this afternoon at four o'clock, whea the report, together with a statement of receipts and expenditure for the year will be submitted j an election of officers, as also of two persons to serve on the working committee ip the place of two who retire by rotation, win be held, and other business transacted.

Mbchahics* TweirrtTTß. —The quarterly meeting of the members of this Institute was held last evening at half-past seven o'clock ; Mr Preston in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and conGrmed. The Chairman estid the meeting was called together for the purpose of electing officers, re«i-«ing the rules, altering the name of the Institute, Ac. The Clerk read the balance-sheet, which shewed a balance to credit of the Institute of £3 18s 6d. It was stated that the account* against the Institute were eettled up to the Ist inst. It was also announced that about eighty volumes had been presented to the Tr.ntitute, chiefly by G. Gould, Eeq. The sum of £5 9s was mentioned a3 having been received as the proceeds of an entertainment given on behalf of the Institute lat the Theatre some time back. It was stated that the sum of £6 6a 6d had been expended in the purchase of twenty volumes of interesting works as an addition to the library. The rules of the Institute were considered, gome of them being altered, and one or two expunged altogether. It was decided that Hie quarterly meetings should be held on the first Thursday in September, December and March and the annual meeting on the first Thursday in July. The question as to the altering of the name of the Institute was then considered Mr Denham moved and Mr Newman seconded, that it should be called for the future "The Christchurch Literary Institute," which was carried. The following gentlemen were elected to act officially for the next six months, viz.:—President, his Honour the Superintendent ; vice-president, E. B. Bishop, Esq. ; treasurer 1 , J. G. Hawkes, Eeq ; librarian, Dr. Prins ; secretary, Mr Denhum ; committee, Dr. Powell, Messrs. Preston, Wood, Withnall, Commander, Dajmonde, and Alport. A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman, and the meeting separated. The attendance of members at the meeting was not large, which is much to be regretted, as the Institute is a most useful one, and deserves that a greater amount of interest should be taken in its welfare.

The Thtjhdeb Stobm.—The storm of Tuesday afternoon seems to have been eeverely felt in the neighbourhood of Woodend and Saltwater Creek. A correspondent sends us the following account of a narrow escape experienced by himself and companions from being struck by the lightning. He writes : — " I went with two others from Saltwater Creek with a dray to Woodend for the purpose of bringing up to the Creek the iron targets belonging to the Creek Company, which had been left at Woodend since the volunteer encampment. The journey down was performed safely, the storm being at the time towards the south and west, and the targets were quickly placed on the dray, and the journey homewards commenced. Soon however after starting, the lightning in the mean time having ceased, the rain commenced to pour down, and shortly such a downpour came as few have seen equalled; in fact the water came down in one mass. Afc this time two of the party were sitting on the targets in the dray and one leading the horse, when, without any warning, the most frightful explosion took place right onthe" dray that it is possible to conceive, and for the next six or seven seconds nobody knew what iiad happened. For my own part, during the time mentioned, my eyes were Sxed wide open, and all they saw was a lurirl glare all around, whilst the feeling for the few seconds was one of utter annihilation, seeing-nor feeling anything bat the frightful enveloping flame. However, although the whole party was enveloped with entire fluid, yet providentially it passed off without , injuring any thing. The first thing on regaining command of action was of course to jump down off the targets, and walk the remainder of the distance home, during which time the party experienced the whole fury of the storm, although there was nothing so severe as the first mentioned. To show the quantity of rain which had fallen, the roads, which on the way from the Creek to Woodend were quite dry, were on the return, half-an-hour afterwards, knee-deep in many places and under water in most. At Saltwater Creek the storm was at an end about ten p.m."

Kowai Road Boaed.—The usual monthly meeting of this Board was held at the office, at Korthport, on Monday last. Present— Messrs Cameron, Crossley, and W. C. Fendall, (chairman). The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Secretary for Public Works, consenting to refund to the Soard the money expended in repairing rhe north approach to the Ashley bridge. The Chairman read a letter from the Provincial Solicitor, stating that the election of Mr W. H. Simms, on the sth of August, 1867, was legal. Tenders were opened and the following accepted:— For forming portions of-Douglus road, W. Earl, £33 3s ; forming 126 chains of Lowburn road, W. Ritchie, £40; making cuttings on the banks of the north Kowai at Amberley and at the Railway road, £49. Mr W. A. Benn attended and reported the public pound at Leithfield as finished. The Clerk was instructed to write to the Secretary for Public Works, and state that the pound was erected on a piece of ground purchased by the Government from Mr Paget of Leithfield, for the purpose of recommending Mr W. A. Benn, of Leithfield, as poundkeeper. The paysheet amounted to £218 Bs. The Surveyor reported on the Amesbury road drain, and stated that tha cost of clearing the drain would be 8s per chain. He also said he had taken the levels of the swamp road, and that it could be drained at an expense of about £40. The surveyor was instructed to call for tenders for the work. The meeting was then adjourned till Monday, the 3rd of February. The annual meeting of ratepayers was held at the office on Tuesday, to elect three members in place of Messrs Cameron and Crosby, who retire by rotation, and Mr Waugh, who has resigned. Messrs Cameron and Crosby were re-elected, and Mr Douglas elected in the place of Mr Waugh. There was no opposition. ■ The balance-sheet for the past year was laid on the table. The amount received during the year was £2034 12s Id, and the expenditure £1924 13s 8d; showing a balance in hand of £109 18s sd.

if ANDBTILIE AsO> RaIT GIOBA ROAD BOARD. —A meeting of the ratepayers of this district was held on Tuesday, for the election of two members in place of Messrs Wilson and Threlkeld, who retire bj rotation. The following report and statement of accounts was read —"The Mandeville and Rangioraßoad Board, in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 13 of the Road Soard Ordinance, 1864, beg to lay before the ratepayers the following statement of the works done during the past year, as also an abstract of the accounts showing theamounts received and expended during that period. In order that there should be a fair distribution of the funds at the command of the Board, it was resolved at one of their earlier meetings that the district should be divided into four sub-divisions, and that, after deducting such a sum as was estimated as sufficient for the maintenance of the.main roads, the balance should be expended in the four cub-divisions in proportion to the amount of rates contributed by them. This resolution the Board regret to say they have been unable to carry out entirely owing to the fact that some portions of the district have required, and always must require, a much larger expenditure than others. This i remark applies especially to the main North road on the Island, or Kaiapoi district, which, from the frequent inundations of the Waimakariri, has been this year, and mnst in all I probability be for the future, a source of ex-! pense to the Board, which they do not ccc their way to meet* Under these circumstances it becomes a question whether it j would not be desirable that some steps should be taken to relieve the other portions of the district of an incubus that must not only prevent a fair apportionment of the j funds at the disposal of the Board, but must also be the cause of a much heavier rate being laid on the district generally each year than would be otherwiee required. The amount received during the past year from the Government was £3046 Sa, and there is still to be received £625; receipts from old rates, £15 19s 3d ; receipts from ninepenny rate struck July 15, 1867, £558 8a lid; to be received from ditto, £461 lie Id ; received from other

sources, £60 10e 6d ; balance at Bank from last year, £28 19s lid; making a total of £4796 Hi Bd. The expenditure and liabilities for outstanding contracts are ac follows : — On main ronds, £1362 Hβ 5d ; Ranaiora subdistrict, £783 3* 3d ; Woodend ditto, £263 16s; Island ditto, £454 Is 9d; Eyretown ditto, £597 6* 3d; petty cash and sundry small works, £21 0s 84 ; salary of surveyor, printing advertising, collecting rates, and office expenses, £287 19s; total, £4069 18s 4d. Whereas the expenditure on the four subdistricts should have been in proportion to the amount of rates collected in each :—Eyretown, £742; Rnngiora, £135; Woodend, £967; Island, £523. Thus it will be seen that the expenditure on the Eyre district has largely exceeded what would be its just share in proportion to the amount of rates collected in that district, whilst in the other three districts the expenditure fills short of what ie 'iu<> to them ; but as there ia a balance of £726 16s 4i unapprapriated, and on the expeudimre of which the la9t-named districts may be fairly considered to have the firstclaim, the disproportion will be greatly reduced, though even then the divisions will ! not be in accordance with the intentions of the Board as expressed in their resolution before referred to. It might bo right to observe with reference to the overexpenditure in the Eyre district, that the sum of £460 has beeD expended in opening out the Oxford and Ohoko road for traffic, that being the principal outlet for the whole district. Signed—Gh Lbsltb Lbb, Chairman." It wa» proposed by Mr Percival, and seconded by Mr Johnson —" That considering the enormous drain that the North road on the Island has been, and must in all probability continue to be, on the funds of the district, in the opinion of this meeting it. is desirable to call a public meetiug of the ratepayers of the district to consider what steps are necessary to remedy the evil, and that the chairman be requested to call such a meeting at as early a date as possible, and at such a place as he may think be?t suited for the convenience of the district " This motion was carried unanimously. The retiring members gave an explanation of their actions during their term of office. The Chairman then called on the ratepayers to nominate whom they might think proper to fill the vacancies, when Mr G. Bowron was proposed by Captain Pareons and seconied by Mr H. Bremley. Mr P. C. Threlkeld was proposed by Mr J. Wilson, seconded by Mr J. Stevenson. Mr Hinge was proposed by Mr J. Wilson and seconded by Mr Dixon A show of hands being demanded it was in favour of Messrs Bowron and Threlkeld, when a poll was demanded on behalf of Mr Hinge, which resulted ac follows :—Bowron, 83 ; Threlkeld, 61 ; Hinge, 29. The Chairman then declared Messrs Bowron and Threlkeld to be duly elected.