THE COST OF LIVING IN SOUTH AFRICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12070, 13 September 1902, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE COST OF LIVING IN SOUTH AFRICA.

SOME STARTLING FACTS REGARDING WORK AND WAGES.

Pretoria, June 25.—Public attention is Btill focusstd on South Africa, and will be for some time to come. One war is mercifully over, but another, of even more gigantic proportions, threatens to envelop Natal, the Cape t and the new provinces of the Empire. Already there is inaugurated the war of competition, the fight- for gold, the strife for fortune, the battle for bed and board, "the conflict for work and wages, the struggle lor existence. It would be an easy thing to join in the thorns of glorification of South Africa as a field ox bold, ambitious Britishers. It would be pleasant, perhaps, to write of the piping times of peace; but the responsibility rests upon someone to tell the truth and tc put naked facts and figures before that considerable section of the British public prepared or preparing to rush out here in the hope of plenty and prosperity. Let it be stated, at once, that South 'Africa, must be specially prepared for immigration. At present it is not prepared lo support the people already in the country. South Africa may easily absorb a million fighting men > it cannot absorb an army of workers. PLOW IMMIGRATION". From an industrial point of view ''the tarrying capacity" is as yet undetermiued. One thing js certain to the careful and conscientious observerthat is. immigration into this country of oil countries in the world, should proceed cautiously, wisely, aud under, if possible, assured conditions of success &nd happiness. It would never do for humanity to crowd here in numbers which would preclude profitable employment. Already, in mam parts of these .Monies, there is keen competition for work, while thi cost of living perceptibly increases. Consider what has happened to the Rand! Two thousand unskilled men are clamouring for work, and the mineowners, on urgent appeal, and as an act of grace for services rendered on th"- battlefield, have agreed to find work for these men at £1 10s a week and quarters for a limited period. This magnanimity, granted with reluctance, is not to be regarded as a permanent arrangement. It is termed relief work. Aral this occurs when there is no possible prospect of a workers' invasion of Johannesburg, for the very good and sufficient reason that permits to come up from the coast are obtained with the greatest difficulty. The rush to the new provinces of the Empire is being wisely and mercifully checked. Why? Well, nearly every ounce of food has to be hauled over hundreds of miles of railroad, and the rolling stock, owing to continuous and heavy military necessities, is sadiy iu need of renewal. INDUSTRIAL QUESTION'. Surely there is no necessity to enlarge upon this aspect of the industrial question. The fact remains that white men are clamorous for Kaffirs' work at Kaffir pay in that most expensive city iu the worldJohannesburg. I saw more idle men in Johannesburg than I saw in Melbourne or Sydney during the worst period of the financial crisis ten years ago. Of course, the occasion is exceptional, but once the white worker proclaims his distress and dependence capital has a notorious habit of making the best of its opportunity. The mineowners are already masters of the industrial position, and it may take a revolution to dislodge them. Another matter to be taken into consideration is that numbers of irregulars, having elected to remain in the country, and having quickly exhausted their pay— in this most costly country swelling the army of those in search of work. So the competition for work and wages proceeds. The legitimate miners who had, before the war, been in demand at 25s a day are simply enraged at men offering to work for 5s per day» COST OF LIVIXG. Now, as to the cost of living. For the privilege of sharing a crowded bedroom in Durban or Capetownwhere the newcomer will doubtless remain for an indefinite period—with indifferent board, the lowest rate is 25s per week. The majority of mechanics and others prefer to pay 30s for bed and board far inferior to the average tenement and table in England. In the Transvaal aud Orange River Colony the mechanic will pay from £8 to £10 per month for food and. shelter. The Britisher, of course, requires his beer. It is 6d per glass at the coast and Is inland. The "shouting" habit prevails, and the generously disposed worker finds he has spent a sovereign without any appreciable diminution of the thirst of his company. The man with a family will search long for a house. Rents range from £6 to £12 p»r month at the coast and nearly double thaC demand in the Transvaal. The cost of food is in keeping with these figures. After careful inquiries in Durban, Maritzfcurg, Capetown, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfon•tein, Johannesburg, and Pretoria the rates of wages and the supply and demand at present prevailing have been tabulated, TABLE O? WAGES. The lower rates are coastal, the. higher rates are for the Transvaal and places difficult of access. When nothing is specified a month is the period for which the rate is paid. They may be taken as fair averages:— Bakers—small demand. £9 to £14. Barmaidsgood demand. £4 to £10. Barmen demand. •Blacksmithsin demand. 30s to 12s 6d per day. Bricklayers demand. 14s to 20s per day. " Butchers—no demand. Low wages. Carpenters demand. 13s 8d to 18s per day. Chemists (qualified)—demand. £14 to £20. Coach painters—fair. 14s to 23s per day. Coachtrimmers—fair. 14s to 20s per day. Commercial travellersno demand. Cooksno demand. Drapers—in demand. £10 to £13. Dressmakers, milliners, saleswomen-— demand. £12 to £20. Engineers—small demand. Farmhands—ho demand. Kaffir labour. I'ittersmoderate demand. 10s to I2s 6d per day. Grocers—no demand. Hairdressers—in demand. £14 to £20. Eousepainters— 13s to 15s per dav. Jewellery (watchmakers)-— demand. '£14 to £25 per month. Jobbing compositors—fair demand. £2 10s to £3 15s per week. Miners demand. Wages falling. Paperhangers—small. 10s to 14s per day. Plumbers— 12s Cd to 15s per day. Eailwaymen—little demand. Wages miserable. Servants (domestic)— demand. £3 to £4 per month. Signwriters—fair. 16s to 208 per day. Solicitorsno demand. Stenographers and typist?—good demand, £12 to £20. Stonemasons —no demand.