THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1890.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8355, 8 September 1890, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1890.

| It is quite recognised that the strike in which various classes of operatives have indulged during the last few weeks will have an injurious effect on the community, and will affect the revenue to a considerable extent. The Colonial Treasurer, in his Financial Statement, estimated that when the year ended he would have a small surplus, but on Friday night the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson stated to the House that Ministers had made up their minds that when they met the House in April next, they would have to announce a deficit, which would be more or less, according t.o the time to which the strikes extended. This is all the more vexing, as the returns, up to the time of the commencement of the strikes, showed that the revenue exceeded the estimates of the Treasurer, and that we were attaining to a much better financial condition. Within the last few days we have heard by cable of subscriptions being made in England amongst different classes of labourers, to aid the strikes-in Australia and New Zealand. Of course, the subscriptions are collected on the simple appeal that a strike is in existence, and no doubt the principal impelling motive has been to show appreciation of the prompt and full response made from Australia at the time of the dockers' We apprehend that when the labouring men of England receive the Australian news-

papers, ami find the wages which* the men who have struck here were receiving, and the short hours within which they had to work, they will be tilled with amazement, and will be tempted . at once to emigrate to where they can be sure, of high paid work and short hours. Strikes in England are caused by low wages and long hours, here it would be safe to say they have been caused by high wages. The men in the employment of the Union Steam Ship Company are well fed, well treated m every respect, and a-ell paid, and they have been the leaders in the strike. There is, indeed, considerable haze as to what the strike has been for, but at all events it is quite certain that it is not for higher wages or shorter hours. It is, in fact, simply an assertion of the power of Unionism. The Trades Unions have become strong, and for years past they have been aggressive,until they have now gone too far in their claims to lay down the law on the subjects of rates of pay, hours of labour, and as to who the employers shall engage to do their work.

But although some damage will undoubtedly result to the revenue from the strike, we do not anticipate that it will be very serious in the long run. We are in a different position from England. There the preponderating business is the manufacture of articles for export. Here the great businesses are the production of raw materials for export, and these have scarcely been interrupted, but have gone on from the beginning of the strike, and are likely to continue to the end. In Australia, it is true, the export of wool has been threatened by the Union shearers declaring that they would stop the shipment of non-Union wool. In that department there has been no interruption m New Zealand. So far the strike here lias chiefly concerned the carrying and distributing business ; the farmers and country settlers have no sympathy whatever with the strikers, and whenever it was convenient they have come into town, and turned to the work which had been abandoned. Some of our infant manufactures have been compelled to stop, or to reduce the output, by the failure in the supply of coal, but as yet the mischief from this cause has not been great. The strikes have caused much embarrassment, but embarrassment" sums up the whole matter, and every day the current if! tending to get back into its normal now. ft is probable indeed that New Zealand may get some benefit from the strikes. The large expenditure of borrowed money since the scheme of public works was Lunched on the world in 1870, has tended to induce capitalists to embark in speculative enterprises which were hazardous, and which were premature for the colony, Uiere were tar too many shopkeepers, traders, and distributors, who had all to make a living off the producers of materials for export. The strike will "Jive a tendency to limit them, to cause a decrease in the army of nonproducers, and an increase in the nobler force of producers. As for the men who have deserted their employers, every sympathy is felt for them, for they will undoubtedly suffer much. In very many cases, they will have to seek their living at different employments than those they have hitherto followed. But it is pleasant to think that the capacities of the colony, in its vast expanse of unfilled land, will soon absorb them all, and give everyone profitable and wholesome employment, for the benefit of themselves and of New Zealand.