PROTECTION AND WAGES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 24, 29 January 1908, Page 3

PROTECTION AND WAGES.

TO TD.E EmiOJl. Sir, — -The intorview published in last evening's istuo of your journal with reforonce to the u-on trade makes interesting reading lo who lead between the Une3. Ifc is surprising that so estimablo a man as Mr. J. P. Luke should always bo so eager for more competition amongst the workers. Having got the tariff increased in favour of himself, he now wants to keep the increased profits due to tho tariff from going to the workers. In order that there may be more competition of workers for jobs, Mr. Luke wants to inveigle more apprentices into the business in order that ho may dispense with the employment of journeymen who would require a man's wage. Mr Luke complains of tho "scarcity of labour." This cry can never mean anything ehe than that people will not enter the trado at the wages which arc offering. Mr. Luke has jjot his increased tariff. Let him advertise to-morrow for more workors at an increased wage, and we shall soon see whether there is any dearth o£ this class of Uabour or not. 1 hope the Trades Hull will take note of tho fact that when the Austrajian Parliament passed an increased tariff, it insisted upon putting an excise upctp industries that did upt pay nn increased wage, thus acknowledging that tariffs do not in themsolvcs raise the wages.yof the workors. 1 That has to bo done 'by the old-fashioned weapon, combined action on tho part of the workers. We have it from Mr. Luke that the iron trado had been good "for some lime," and that it ha= still further improved since the tariff has been passed, go that a demand for increased wages is highly justifiable. Tariff industries aro State-created, and as such should bo controlled Ijy tho State, in order that increa&ed profits shall not all go into the hands of a few.— l am, etc., LET SOME DROPPINGS FALL ON 7 ME.