AN AMERICAN VIEW OF ENGLISH WORKMEN.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5678, 3 May 1880, Page 2

AN AMERICAN VIEW OF ENGLISH WORKMEN.

The Scientific American says:— "Our Consul at Sheffield describes the habits of the working men of his district, and it is feared that his description is applicable to those of most English cities. The Consul says: ' A bold recklessness as to earning and spending prevails amoug the Sheffield working men. Many a man who can earn his 14dols to 19dols a week will bo satisfied with earning half that sum, or just enough to provide him with his food, beer, and sporting, allowing his wife but a mere pittance of his wages for herself and children. Large numbers who might make themselves independent, make no provision for the future, except to pay into their club a shilling or two a week, which assures them, if not in arrears, some aid in case of sickmess. The method of insurance, good in itself, seems to operate here to paralyse the desire to save. One thing, however, seems evident, that notwithstanding the great depression in the manufacturing intcrosts of Sheffield, there would be but little destitution among the working people but for their drinking habits. Anyone walking these streets will see at once where tho earnings of the working men go, and in many cases the earn- j ings of the working women also, for there is in this town a far greater population of women employed in the heavier kinds of labor than will be found in the cities of the United States, excei^t it may be the great cotton manufacturing centres. This fact is to be considered in optimal ing the amount of earnings that go to the support of families, such earnings being larger than might at first appear. Were tho same properly used, there would be comparatively little suffering or poverty. The reports from England show that most of tho evils with which the laboring class of that country are afflicted can be traced to intoxicating drink, la tho Sheffield district it is esti- i

mated that each working man loses one day of each week through drink. This loss or time .is equal to a loss of one-sixth of the productive power of the district, and it is pertinently observed that a nation with a labor population given to drink and strikes, no matter how favorable other auspices may be, cannot continue to compe^e successfully in the markets of the world with those countries whoso working classes are temperate, industrious, and thrifty."