MR. O’MALLEY ON HIGH WAGES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 171, 6 July 1911, Page 11

MR. O’MALLEY ON HIGH WAGES.

MISSIONARIES FOR EMPLOYERS. Melbourne, June 30. The Minister for Home Affairs. Mr. O'Malley, to-day made some observations with regard to the protest of the Employers' I'deration against, a fixed rate of 9- per day for unskilled labour in the Government departments controllid by the Minister. The resolution .set out that the fixing of such a rate, partial in its application, would he unjust to men outside the service, who have to pay the increased cost, and that it would materially increase the cost of public works on which the department was engaged. To-day Mr. O’Malley said ‘'The mover of this resolut ion. Mr. Blackwood. evidently failed t<> recognise that the economic basis of all progress is that where there are high wages in a State there is a good market for the produce of the farmer. There never yet was a bad market where there were good wages, and never a good market where there were bad wages. These poor chaps who are knocking about the country with a few days' work here and there suffer all sorts of hardships and inconvenience, and live on the worst in the land. In

this age of human progress and human justice and Christian enlightenment, f would expect Mr. Blackwood to have some sympathy in his soul for the great multitude that produce all the wealth. The land on which Mr. Blackwood lives was here before Mr. Blackwood came, and all the wealth he possesses in the stored result of the labour of those very poor fellows! against whom this resolution was passed. Instead of sending mis-i sionaries to South Africa and India we ought to keep them here to | preach to Mr. Blackwood and the; Employers' Federation.”