“Colonial Life.”

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 198, 20 September 1888, Page 3

“Colonial Life.”

At the weekly meeting of the Presbyterian Literary Association on Tuesday evening a paper entitled “ Colonial Life ” was read bv Mr R. H. Scott. According to the essayist the question often arose as to whether colonials were better off than the people in older countries; whether many of their commercial systems were calculated to build up a mighty empire ; whether their workmen were satisfied with the wages paid and the labor provided; and whether their free and compulsory educational system was proving itself a power for good ? There were certain phases of colonial life which required much thought for our individual welfare, and for the better direction of their criticism on their fellow citizens. Though this might savor somewhat of placing themselves as being better than their neighbors, it was a fact that every day they were directly or indirectly influencing their friends and neighbors by their acts and criticism. THE CONDITION OF WOBKMEN. As to whether the workman was well off in New Zealand, wages came first into consideration. These were much higher than at Home, more especially so in the case o mechanics. The salaries of professional men could not be so easily considered, but no matter what class of men they took they were not nearly so well off as would appear by simply quoting the difference in salary, which roughly estimated wonld be about 50 per cent higher than at Home. Though it might be supposed a man could save mere money in New Zealand than at Home, there were disadvantages to cope with peculiar to the colony, such as broken time, excessive rents, high cost of living, and attempted gentility. EMPLOYMENT OF BOYS. Speaking of broken time, the essayist said there were in Dunedin several large engineering shops in which a large proportion of boys were employed, and as the output was limited as soon as the boys complete their term of apprenticeship they were discharged and other boys taken on in their place. The consequence was that they were annually turning out a large number of mechanics for whom only part work could be found, and that was work which boys could not do. When a large contract was secured all the available men were taken on, and as soon as the contract was finished they were discharged until another contract was secured. Meanwhile the foremen and the apprentices were able to keep the shop open and execute chance orders and repairs. Broken time, he thought, was very much felt now, but there were darker times to come unless a remedy was found. A REMEDY. The essayist felt convinced that if men were to work for one-third less salary it would bo better for everyone concerned. Masters had to compete against older established manufactories and were forced to employ labor at a price which would enable them to compete with foreign manufacturers. If the wages required by men were too high they must employ boys or shut up their factories. If an employer attempted to reduce wages by such a sum as advocated he would speedily have a hornets’ nest about his ears, but that did not alter the fact that the men were standing in their own light, Assuredly it would be better to have £2 per week regularly, for then a man’s living could be kept proportionate to his salary. HOUSE RENTS. House rents were the heaviest drain on the working man, and in many of the large towns accommodation was lamentably deficient. The rents paid amounted to a fifth of their salary, which, in the essayist’s opinion, was far too large a proportion. He hoped it would be many years before it was necessary to build four and five storey houses in the colony, THE CREDIT SYSTEM. Possibly the system of giving credit was one of the greatest drawbacks which they as a community had to contend with, and to the trader it was positively injurious. Almost any person could obtain credit, and that without limit. The dealers charged increased prices to “ cover risk,” as it is termed, and ultimately the people suffered. He thought it almost impossible for dealers to resist this system until it had assumed such proportions as to render united action necessary. Unfortunately the man who paid cash did not get the benefit he should, for storekeepers had to depend largely on their cash customers to keep the wheels running, and out of them he made up his losses. Another evil of the credit system was the opportunity it gave to adventurous contractors, and the evil was felt so much that competent men were being driven out of competition. CONCLUSION. The concluding portion of the essay pointed out the advantages which young men possess in this colony, and the opportunities given them to rise in life. Regarding the Educational system, the essayist thought that it was a great advantage that the poor should have an equal privilege with the rich, but he said a common error was that people liked to place their sons iu offices instead of putting them to trades. In conclusion he thought that although their star of prosperity had waxed dim there was a time coming when trade would flourish again, the evils which had been mentioned would gradually disappear from their midst.