PROTECTING THE WORKER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 269, 14 November 1907, Page 4

PROTECTING THE WORKER.

Protection that protects is evidently ths aim of the Australian Minister for Finance, Sir Wm. Lyne. In a recent speech that gentleman outlined a practical policy, to ensure that the worker shall be protected equally with the manufacturer. While the latter is being afforded facilities for profitably prosecuting his enterprises, under the ssgis of -high duties, it seems to be right and proper that his workmen shall share in the benefits to be derived thereby. The Australian Government is not going to leave it to the will of the manufacturer to say what proportion of his profit shall go to those who are creating it for him. The Government has devised, a plan for ensuring proper consideration for the wage-earner, who is not to be ground down to a mere living wage in order to enrich his employer. The scheme is simplicity itself. An excise duty is to be put on his goods, which is not to be enforced so long as the manufacturer conforms to the ordinary rules of wages in each State. The sword of Damocles is in fact to be suspended over his head, to fall when the condition is not complied with. He will be required to/pu^ on his goods a Commonwealth trade-mark, which would be recognition of the fact that he is paying proper wages, and an indication that he is receiving the full protection of tne tariff. An excise board, to be called a Board of Trade, is to be appointed, whose function will bs to enquire into matters and see that everything is going on all right, It will have no power beyond reporting to Parliament if anything improper is being done in regard to charges imposed on the community, etc., and Parliament will then take action. The Board of Trade is to be created as soon as the tariff is through Parliament. The certificate of any State Arbitration Court or Wages Board will enable a manufacturer to obtain the Commonwealth stamp, and in places where there is no board or court, then a police magistrate with two assessors will investigate the matter and send a report to the Board of Trade, which will act upon that report. _ The object sought by Sir Wm. Lyne is the protection of all classes of the community, and in doing so he contends that the Government is working in the very best interests of Aus.tralia. The plan seems to be admirably designed to prevent the protected manufacturer growing wealthy at the expense of the wage earner, who is also to be ensured his full share of benefit possible under duties now being imposed in the Commonwealth. The possible effect of high duties and high wages upon the consumer, the man who has to find the money for it all, is not considered. Ho does not count.