TRADE UNIONISM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12587, 23 August 1901, Page 6

TRADE UNIONISM.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l would like to ask a few questions.. If there is anything in this world an individual can have, after all want® are satisfied? Can there be any great improvement in our social conditions, while one loan, receives £7500 a year, and another poor beggar has to plead) in an Arbitration Court,, after serving seven, years' apprenticeship,, to be allowed the magnificent sum of £3 a week? Do you 'think public opinion, ia likely to be shaken in Unionism while the present state of affairs exist? Supposing the income of an employer is fifteen pounds a week, and he pays his employees thirty shillings each, are they any better off.because he spends his whole income? Does it benefit an individual to know that his neighbour.has a large house well furnished, arid his table well spread ; and does it benefit the neighbour to. know ithais the former has a very small one, and nothing in it J Is it fair, is it honest, is. it reasonable, to ask a poor employee to be content, and not ride his Union horse to death, on a wage ranging from one pound to three pounds a week, while kings, dukes, lords,, governors, premiers and other gilded officials, coming down to editors and managers of newspapers, receive in some instances more than three pounds a, day. Lets the world tiy to be charitable. Let those who have so much of <the good things that they scarcely know what to do with thent be not envious and full of hatred towards their less fortunate brethren, for desiring to be like unto them. But rather look with pity, holding out the hand of fellowship; and, like the Master whom they pretend to follow and worship, say: "Are not these in reality our brothers?"—l aril,, etc., G. BARTY.