THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1890.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 9137, 7 November 1890, Page 2

THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY).

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1890.

With which are incorporated the Wellington Independent, established 1845, and the We\o Zealander.

The question of the prevention of strikes is raicfed by the Premier’s manifesto* It is raised at a time when circumstances have greatly simplified it. The cause of.the strike now finishing was the affiliation with Australia. Not even the strongest Unionist ia likely to believe in affiliation with Australia after the awful disaster to which it has led. The dislike to this species o! Federation is not likely to require the assistance of any legislation to keep it alive in sufficient power to prefer the inde pendence of New Zealand. Another question that has been raised during the strike is the question of the meet* ing of the waters, so to speak. But the Unionist waters have discovered that they must meet the unorganised waters; and not one of the Labour candidates has said a word in opposition, while many counsel their friends to accept the situation. These two great questions, then, may be said to have been cleared out of the way that leads to the settlement of the Labour problem. What is left for consideration is the method of preventing the strikes incidental to the ordinary conditions of trade. One day in the future it is probable that the affiliation of N.Z. Unions, and their linking with Australia, and perhaps other countries, will be accomplished. That is the drift of things. As the World goes on we can not shut our eyes to the drift of things. Prudent men do not ignore eventualities ; they prepare for them. When this destiny of labour ia accomplished, and the similar destiny of capital—for one day capital will be federated just as labour will, all the world over—the federation will have to reckon with the safeguards established in every country tor the preservation of the great interests involved in agriculture, commerce, and manufactures, A law for the amicable arrangement of all disputes will be the bar against all arbitrary disarrangement from the operations of external causes.

The difficulties besetting such a law are very much exaggerated. “Am I,” says the capitalist, “ to submit to anyone else the question of whether 1 am to run my business at a loss F ” On his side the workman asks if he is to be compelled to work on conditions he does not like, just like the serfs of old who were fixed by the feudal law to the soil. There is no reason why a law for the prevention of extreme measures should interfere between man and man to either extent. No reasonable arbitration is ever likely to make a man carry on a business at a loss, or to compel labourers to work for wages which are insufficient to support life in comfort with the hope of saving added. If a business will not pay under any circumstances, no arbitration conceivable Will make it pay. Arbitration can only be invoked to settle the differences between masters and men, on points on which either' side considers that the other is making unreasonable demands. That is the question which strikes and lock-outs are designed to settle. They are by common consent the worst methods, because the most disastrous, of settling anything. _ In neither is there any reason. Arbitration is the substitution of reason for brute force when that element is actually within measurable distance and advancing rapidly. It should be easy to define the limits within which the decision of arbitrators shall be binding, because in the exercise of reasqli there should be no difficulty. Arbitration of the kind now in question is not a new thing. The experience of the world ought to give us a guide towards a measure which shall prevent disaster from extreme measures, without damage to any interests.

Mb E 'CHarixson has informed Mr Seymour that the land ho has or behalf of certain men applied for is still open, and that the Government is ready to pay the cost of the surveys. Mr Seymour’s people on their side are ready to pay one year’s rent. They ought to be ready therefore to go at once on to the land. The Government has made as great a concession as. can be expected under the circumstances. For the' other side to keep the matter agitating will savour of political dodgery, if there is no political candidate behind them, the men should go forward in the assurance that certainties are things not to be had in this world. If there is a political candidate behind them, they deserve no more attention on the subject from any one if they allow his influence to keep the matter open to their detriment. Mr Richardson has distinguished himself in this matter by his honest earnest desire to help the strikers to minimise the consequences of the strike. He and his colleagues have gone more than half-way to meet the requests of the men, without any thought of making political capital. They are absolutely clean-handed, and devoid of ulterior motive we feel sure. So much is evident on the face of it. The thing is too serious for the men concerned for any room to be made for political considerations. If anyone is trying to make political capital on their side, let them beware of such a per son or persons as of their worst enemies. The concessions made by the Government show their absolute desire to strain every nerve to do what is necessary and proper for a number of very deserving men suffering from unmerited misfortune. If these men accept the terms before them in a good spirit, they may, wo feel sure, rely on the sympathetic sense of justice of Parliament for lightening any conditions of occupation that may turn out to be beyond their power. Accept the terras, men, and get away to the land. When you get there the whole country will help you if you want help.

Presently the world is going wild about the consumption cure. Dr Koch, of Berlin, has made his announcement of discovery after years of disappoint ment. The faculty docs not appear to have accepted his conclusions. But wo have been told that certain medical men have done so, not only without- reserve, but with enthusiasm. In consequence of this, no doubt, a society is being established for supplying the “lymph” to the poor for inoculation. If Dr Koch has really found a cure for consumption ho has made the greatest discovery of the age, and the most beneficial, and, we may add, the most hopeful for the future. It is in all probability the first fruit of the investigations consequent on the modern theory of disease germs. Science, if Dr Koch is right, may be broadly said to have taken up and mended the thread broken after Jenner’s discovery. It is, however, too socn to accept Dr Koch’s announcement as conclusive. He was the discoverer of a cholera cure of the same kind not long ago, but that came to nothing. Then we have the case of Pasteur and hydrophobia. Accepted with acclamation at first, Pasteur’s system now stands in grave doubt. Pasteur has really never got over the sad case of Lord D.-nerai'e, wuich he failed altogether to explain satisfactorily. Of his explanations in that case it has been said that they are at variance with explanations he has given in others. The whole subject of the great hydrophobia cure is now enveloped in an atmosphere of doubt. Everybody hopes that Dr Koch has established his system. But before exchanging hope for certainty, there must be a long series of test cases.

Mil Stead, of Christchurch, has been very often pressed to stand for election to the House of Representatives. But for some reason he has always declined. The proverbial persevering process, as in the case of hardest rocks and drops of water, has prevailed, and Mr Stead is io the field at last. A very successful man of business, far beyond the average of success anywhere ; a racing man who has had great triumphs, and is undeniably in the front rank, Mr Stead must make a good politician, if keenness of intellect and knowledge of the world are of any use to politicians. There is not much difference between him and Mr Blake, who is running as the old member, Mr,

Blake intimated last session to Mr Ballance that upon the question of taxation he preferred to vote with the Government. If Mr Stead is not of the same way of thinking there will be a queer jumble among the voters. Upon the land question and the labour question there is no difference at all between the two candidates as far as may be judged by tho current gossip of the street. Mr Stead if he gets into Parliament will be a moie decided and more active member, accustomed to manoeuvring in difficult country. Mr Blake's good qualities on the other hand are his steadfastness, his prudence, his independence of character, and great knowledge of local government. A man of that kind it is always a pity to disturb, Mr SlCad ought to go and oppose the undesirable, not tho desTable candidates.

Bucking horses we are all faipiliar with, but bucking bullocks nobody ever knew anything about until the talented members of Mr Wirth's circus introduced us to them. The other day in Christchurch they gave an exhibition of both in the midst of a large crowd at the show ground. The result was that the horses would not for the most part buck, while a bullock scraped off its rider by running under a rope, and then ran amuck amongst the people. It astonished a lady very considerably by tossing her without hurting her much, and it gave some ugly bruises to half a dozen men. There was every probability that somebody would be killed until a plucky local stockrider named Hodgins got hold of the brute by the horns and threw it on its back. Now the mystery is this : AVhy do people want to ride bucking bullocks ? Nobody ever wants to ride a bullock who is quiet* The ox is not built for carrying mankind with either grace or comfort, and if you want to force him to it he will set to work and try to kill somebody. It is a kind of exhibition which, being hopelessly absurd as well as dangerous, ought not to bo permitted.