COMMERCIAL CONDITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 192, 8 May 1908, Page 4

COMMERCIAL CONDITIONS.

, Sir, —Thanking you for' your general courtesy exhibited towards correspondents, permit me to express my opinion on what to my mind, are vital conditions appertaining: towards democratic nationalisation of com-' mereial conditions with a view to the result of fair aud, equitable dealing .amongst the community.. To-day'confusion prevails, Arbitration Acts are'set ati nought, employee . is at the throat of employer, both employer . .and employee are fined or imprisoned according to sucli" constitution, the violation of which make them liablo and 'amenable to the law. The gain' to .either party, nil, with vexation and ..dissatisfaction their reward, brought about, by'strife' aftor supremacy for, capital or labour., . Labour demands a price for services; rendered/' capital moves along .the prices of living commodities .'accordingly. The result is'chaos'for the.laboiirer. t'l ,■ Now the point at issue: is; it-possiblo to .arrive at fair dealing ?, ■ To-day, for instance, democracy clects its : representatives or " State fathers to' watch' over its national children, but; how sadly they neglect their duty.' For instance, take the "staff of lifej" these "Stato fiythers" permit a. section to combinfc their, capital and say to their children : "You slmll .not. ca;t bread except, at the price we .fix." Picture,, if, possible; X parent accepting such conditions' towards its. cliil-; dreu.. Practically this is what; Parliament is to-day countenancing from a certain Associa■tion..- ,Take;', the. trade, .the same conditions ■- prevail.' .A, .combination' ' carried . .along, : the . prices are 'handled to .whatever tune tiiese' parties wish to play, and' democracy .must dance .'to it, whilst, our guardians, of national lilierty look on 1 this process . 'with impunity.., . , Doe's-,any ; sane mandony. .that."the., State should step in,, appoint a' commission, ascertain this' domancl • antl.requirements' of the principal necessaries : of, .life, . flour, ' butter, •.meat, btc.j .for the'community,.; buy. -in' open competition, :stcro, in depots" these.' commodities as .and allow the,' retailers, whom no mail denies the right of'fair. profit,. to purchaso.. . ihcrefwm, v. and. .distribute' amongst the community.':. - The fact that ; certain. sections !in this country juggla.in the manner! that: already, provails with .these commodities, is, a national scandal, and tho man to whom Jsgivbn: the wisdom to'obserye,;theso conditions and'fails' .to point them .out, v is'hiiij.nation's enemy. To-, . '. the-: unfortunates-; housewife -is \iri- ;a,/ dilSmnu as .regardsthe .family- loaf,. • while.' the: State looks on; .with'a bogey'of/ruination to' the farmter as its standby! ami the .baker as a; :go-bfetweeh'.' :, With,.the naiiohiil. necessity, arid; 'demniid .protected, arid legitimate .figure paid for ■ this; commodity '.(wheat)', -.';the bakers' .'would '.bo ; the .'means' of . discovering where , charity, shoyld prevail, andtho surplus price, pow paid by those, who can ipay-' should he relegated to . its proper sphere,' the; supply to those whose poverty,, deny"., now , their' right to!, live. . It .should- bo, the' nation's -.chargo to .look to this''portion of oho!'of .its •greatest assets, the,souls,of,the needy. At .this corning election Labour must, endeavour, to r drhw. ' to' _its ..ranks .candidates who. will fiilht the'national patriots' a.task most difficult,' but; bv. no. means impossible, , and. wreck the combination that "now seeks to wreck democratic national humanity.—l am, etc., " L. -NV. 1 May G, 190? ' ■ -'V-