OUR LABOUR TROUBLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11619, 5 April 1901, Page 3

OUR LABOUR TROUBLES.

TO THE EDITOR. 1

Sir.—Apparently we have: not • done with; that relic of old-time ; unfairness—" a workmen's strike," and the fact is to be deplored. Yet, while sympathising with workmen who consider : themselves aggrieved, one.: cannot but think that to do as the bricklayers in Auckland have done, namely,; give two days' notice without any alternative but cessation from work, is certainly a very high-handed proceeding. One cannot but feel indignant that -employers should be harassed in this manner by 'men earning over-60s per week.: Had their earnings been below a living wage, one nould have understood their autocratic demeanour; but considering that they are at : present - receiving 20s _ more than the average working-man, their conduct is the more regrettable.'■-„; •. It appears to mo, however, that the distance is very short between :democracy and anarchy, and that, : given a little. more rope, ~ the socalled working-men of; this country would very soon dictate to the employers 1 of labour the rate of profit, if any, they should v receive from any. contract agreed upon. .. < There are two : things which must strike the outsider who reads , news from ;■■ this colonythe frequent occurrence of the\ word " Seddon," : and the constant reference to the "working-man." Now, from my : youth .up.';.! have been afflicted; with that • mo3t:. distressing complaint. '•;'.'. " impecuniosity,": 'which'';;; has:•■„■ prevented me from following up the profession I adopted, consequently I now belong ,to that great array of workers which includes; clerks, shop-keepers, and warehousemen. Now the workers mentioned, though , a very ; numerous class, ■ have no unions, 'neither' have they amongst their numbers a rejected aspirant for Parliamentary honours : to suggest grievances :■' and ■ discover ;.. injustice. ": Yet • I venture to \ say that the class mentioned represent the moral and intellectual force of the working classes. Still, .as a matter of; fact, this great body of workers :is 'not so well paid as - the men who ; are continually i crying out about the grievances of the "pore working-man," ; and while wages are ; being 5 raised all round amongst artisans, ; which, of course, means that rents '. are higher, ;» food; dearer, and. clothing more expensive, the onlyworker really benefited by it all is the mem-; ber of a trades union. Now, I; want to know, "Where do we come in?" ', Let the workers have fair : wages by all means but do not lose sight of fairness :in making de- '-,- mands under -unreasonable conditions. ■ It is all very well at the present time, when work' is plentiful, to 'dictate to*employers about terms, : but the time is coming, , and ;; before-. long, when it will be the employer's; turn, and, can blame him if then he allows human nature to assert itself, and ;takes his, revenge. .- It , is ; true that at ; the present time a wave of apparent ? prosperity 'is passing over.-the country, but borrowed:money. cannot for ever, especially". at the,.; rate we have been . going on lately, and at no distant date this country will have to pay, and when the settling day comes, we shall see; who squeaks first, the working-man at 72s per week ; or the employer.—l am, etc.. YOUNG Oldb-dok. Auckland, April 4, 1901.