THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1895.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10014, 28 December 1895, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1895.

We have heard much less lately about the unemployed. This lias arisen, we verily believe, because the Ministers have rim out of funds to carry on the pauperising schemes in which they have been indulging since they succeeded to office, and so things have tended to fall back into something like their natural position. Ministers pledged themselves to give every man who applied for it work at a certain standard wage, which should be a liberal one, and which should regulate private employers. Their motives for this action were mixed. Mr, lloevcs was probably the most honest and thorough. He thought that Socialism could be established in New Zealand, and this was a beginning. Probably lie is now coming to the conclusion that the thing cannot be done, and he retreats from the field of effort to the gay and splendid office of AgentGeneral, with £1500 a-year and the rank of an ambassador at the Court of St- James's, The other Ministers knew that in these days of one-man-one-vote, the unemployed, and those who are always on the verge of that state, could cast the balance in most of the constituencies. The promise of work for all the unemployed at a standard wage which is higher than a private employer can (lord to give, is in most constituencies « direct bribe, just as if Ministers went about with handsful of money to distribute.

The colony has still to learn, or to appreciate, tho elementary fact that all tho money that Ministers spend in wages has to be first taken from the people by the tax-gatherer—has to be, in fact, subtracted from the wages fund of the country. If the Government increase their payments, tho workset on foot by private persons will be diminished. And it will be diminished in a lingo ratio, because private parties, not knowing what the end will be, will refrain from all enterprise, such as creates wealth and gives employment. There is no use in attempting to get into the heads of Ministers any notion of the laws of political economy. The temptations of political expediency put that out of the question. The only cause which will prevent them from spending money recklessly in giving voters easy work is that they shall have no money to spend in that way. In a great emergencysuch, for instance, as has occurred at Newfoundland—a Government are bound to take the most extreme measures to relieve distress, but in the situation of New Zealand there is no such excuse. Government work and Government wages are here political bribes, and simply dry up the ordinary sources of employment.

A few days ago, the Hon. Mr. Reeves met a deputation at Christchurch from "the Surplus Labour League," which has been formed there. The live members of the deputation stated distinctly enough what they wanted, and what they thought the Government should do. They said that they " considered it was the duty of tho Government to find them work at a living wage." It was the duty of the Government to find work, and at" a living wage," which means something above the current rate of ordinary employment. Mr Reeves did not find any fault with this definition of the duty of the Government, but tacitly accepted it. He said

We put on every man we could find a shilling for, and helped local bodies to pay liberally in different parts to start these relief works. Of course it would be absolutely impossible for the Government to keep on during the summer at the same rate. We have had to slacken off, and have been knocking men off to make ends meet. Therefore it is not to be expected that we can take on any large body on public works; we have neither the money nor tho works available about here.

The Government have caused all the talk about the unemployed. They did much to create it in the first place •

they have caused scarcity of work by the excessive taxation which they have levied, in order to provide funds for their futile experiments; they have prevented work being given by private employers, by the universal distrust which they have induced. The only chance for the country is that they should have no money to spend in doing mischief.