THE CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 3085, 28 March 1892, Page 2

THE CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM.

While freely crediting Mr. Seddon with the best of intentions and an earnest desire to help the workers, we have already pointed out the political dangers of a system which places in the hands of a Minister the selection ot bodies of men to whom he will give work. There need be no difficulty so long as there is plenty of work for everybody, but immediately there are more applicants than can be given work, and a Minister has to pick and choose, say, 100 from 200, be cannot fail to displease 100, and the disappointed ones will be ready enough to attribute discreditable reasons why they were not selected. Further, than that, "How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done," A Minister who desired to win to his side certain men or to reward them for services already rendered evidently under such a system could do so, and in many instances would do so. At anyrate he would always be liable to the charge of having done so, and the possession of the power must be at once dangerous to a Minister's peace of mind, and a constant source of temptation. So much from the political or party aspect of the matter. But it seems there are other difficulties. It appears questionable whether tbe scheme is having the results expected. The Pahiatua Star, of a recent date, referred to the subject in these terms :—": — " The co-operative Hystem has no doubt a good deal to recommend it, but it will do little more to stem the torrent of seekers after manual labor than tbe much-abused contract system. Already we have heard a number of complaints from men who have been refused any more Government work in the district. And these very men had actually been complimented by the Engineer in charge upon the excellent manner in which they had done their .work. Tbe reason is plain. Where there is good work at good pay for one hundred men, there are immediately two hundred to do what is required. If. the flood of labor could fee regulated like that of a mill-stream, by a series o£ flood-gatea, we would be prepared to admit that Mr. Seddon bad achieved something like success. As tbis is far from bsing the case, however, tbe direct result oE sustaining an artificial rate of wages will be in a very short time that where tbe

most Governrqent works are going on, there will be found the largeat number of unemployed. Men have already commenced to pour into this district, where there is no more Government work to be had, and no doubt before many weeks are over there will be a large addition to their number: While on this atibject we should like to ask a few questions regarding the Mangatainoka cooperative railway works. Mr. Seddon said these works were for those who really required employment to keep the wolf trom the door j married men to have the preference. No one could take exception to such a humane Bcheme. But is it being carried out ? Is it not a fact that most of the work was given to a large number of single men. from Wellington, ma.ny, of whom are in fair circumstances, some, indeed, having from £600 to £1000 to their credit ? Are these men most deserving of consideration at the hands of the G-overnment ? There are plenty of married men in the district--wor-thy men, too — who would have been thankful for work so near their homes ; but it waa not for them ; they had rendered no great service to the Government at a by-election. There wpre some taken on in. this district} but we know that several o£ them were in comparatively easy circumstraces to many who were unable to obtain work."