NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15411, 20 September 1913, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

' THE INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM; The report of the Unionist; Social Reform $ Sub-committee on industrial.unrest is, says ' the London Standard,- a- highly interesting document. The committee 'inquired into the operation.'of compulsory arbitration in New Zealand, but arrived at the conclusion thai what was practicable in the Dominion might not be so easy in 'the United Kingdom. When : compulsory •H'Mtrot;™ !.„„ t. i. iI.J • '' xt f»_-

arbitration has been applied in New Zealand it has been in the case of. comparatively , small trades. .It may be possible to compel a few score journeymen bakers or tailors to accept a legally diminished wage. But it is not clear that the resources of the State could. be sufficient to enforce a reduction upon a million miners or several hundred thousand railway servants. The scheme that found most favour in the eyes of the ' sub-committee was the Lemieux Act in Canada, an adaptation of which they recommended. There would be arbitration without compulsion. The Board of Trade would appoint a joint board of conciliation of three members, one each representing the employers and the employed, and one nominated by the Go- • vernment. The board would prepare a plan of conciliation, and if it failed to get this accepted by both parties it would publish its recommendations through the newspapers and leave public opinion to bring its influence to bear. It is on public opinion that the eommittee largely relies, rightly feeling that this potent influence, properly directed by an impartial and well-informed press, must prevail, in all cases save those in which passions have become excited . beyond ' reasonable bounds. There. was a period when the newspapers devoted so much space to labour topics, or, on the • whole, (handled them with so much fairness and competence. An instructed public opinion may do more than cast-iron legal or judicial rules to harmonise the great economic forces when they, seem likely to pass beyond control. CHAMPAGNE AND EXORBITANT PROFITS. \ . Bad weather in. the champagne district is seriously affecting the prospects of the crops this season, and there is likely to be a'diminished supply of the wine beloved of Crcesus. Still another side of the champagne trouble wa3 mentioned to the representative of a .London paper by. the agent of a famous brand, who asserted that there was generally a serious falling off in England in the drinking of the best champagne. "Much of this is caused," he said, "by the exorbitant proSts demanded by hotels 'and restaurants selling the various brands. Perhaps at an 1 hotel ' of the highest and most expensive class one can tranquilly accept a charge of 14s a bottle for a. '96 cork and 16s a bottle for a '94. You are paying also something towards the luxurious, surroundings t 'in which you are being served. But- in) restaurants, provincial hotels of the second class, and even in places where. half-crown) luncheons and three-and-sixpenny dinners are the limit of the , catering,* and--where rents are.low and expenses in proportion, 126 and 14s per bottle and 6s ; 6d and 7s 6d for half-bottles are unblushmgly demanded for champagnes of the superior brands; and they must all be superior now , since the delimitation of the: district. The average price at which -the hotels' arid restaurants buy from the. agents is seldom over and often under .&, per. bottle.for . reputed quarto. Mr. , Boniface.must have a profit, of 60 per cent and upwards!, No wonder whisky and mineral water 'is ginning to hold its - own- sir firmly against champagne! The -retail sellers; by their greed for profit, are restricting the sale, which could so materially assist wholesale agents and" manufacturers! during the present crisis." . : ' ' -