PASSING EVENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4871, 24 January 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

PASSING EVENTS

(From tho "Nuw Zealand -Mail.”; History is philosophy, teaching by examples — l Thucydides. Oar cAblcgram;; thw wed: a;^i:ia t.,’ iirj niatiui v.liicii Ims -ii r; prt' -cnLa.f ives vi trades niiim;isl:, Great ilntaiu on account of too q. c .ju of the Law Lords liia-t *’pic,.;:tim.' is iilceai and time th 11 iujius of trades nuioii.-, may ho attachable ter any damage do-no by liicir memoirs to thi: biauiK, or property of employers. ilw decision is a lai’-iciicimi” one. jiappiiy tlio adoption in this country ot a peaceful solution of mulo disaorncnKMiis, has rendered tin jiioiriucnt of tho lng;l.-c-i, Bn; i.-iii Cert of little value to Now Zealanders. 'I ho matter is of considerable importance, lie-wo/er, to the indns(rial v/wirl, ami tiie present acliom of the British workman's haulers display a I;iek of imue;iualion .uul progressiva iuslinct. Throe coiiiiiiittofes, wo learn, reprcscntuUvo of tratios union oryuni.;;'.tious in Great Britain havo decided tocail a national ■ conference to support a Hill to legalise tho picketing. They also do.siro an amendment of the English law of conspiracy, so as to absolve: mules unions from actions for damages on account of offending unionists unless the offender’s conduct' ii is the s met non othe union's rules. It is ah/ays char-

act eristic of iiiim.agi'.a' ivo persons to 'P--I',’v to (lioiuwlvcs iii ii particular s-'ii'm 11 ‘hn.-ad and go ik‘inl principle. Thus, .I’.-toi',;! <t ul'-iii.'[iin'.; tim principle laid lowa by llm Appeal Court as being sound, and seeking oilier ways of raising tho standard of tlnur ’:11 labors and an amendment, of iho 1 a v: in a progressive direction, these trades unions’ representatives seek the amendment of the law fur the purpose of clearing the unions of any liability in respect to the action of their members against their employers. Tliis is not the way to cstahlisiithafc confidence between master and man so essential to tho welfare of all industrial ventures; neither is it likely to promote enterprise tun one; capitalists, whoso money after all is necessary to tho employment of labour.

Capital and labour are indispensable to one another, and they should cultivate relations that will bo productive of tho highest good of both. 'There is an inclination among employers to interest themselves in tho material well-being of their employees, but every aggressive act on tho part of the men st dies good intention. There are, no doubt, unscrupulous employers just as there are “ca’ canny” men, hut for tho faults of a few all aro not to be condemned. Among the industrial classes ‘of this country there aro yet problems to bo solved, but wo have abandoned that barbariu weapon the strike, and resorted to tho more civilised method cf conciliation to settle our trade differences. Trades unionists are not now feared; they are respected in Now Zealand, because it is being recognised that their efforts to raise their own status has been helpful to their employers. In some countries the thorough organisation of labour has Jed to tho formation of trusts, and although, as in America, much encouragement is given to labour to pub forth its best efforts in the interests of capital (which is to some extent itself) tho trust like the trades union has become a menace to tho well-being of society. Recently tho groat coal strike' caused much misery as we!! ns loss in tho Eastern States, and various combinations have divided huge profits by raising tho prices of “trusted” articles to the consumer. Non - , President Roosevelt is confronted with two great industrial problems—how to deal witn tho trust and tho trade union. They aro not without objectionable features, and it is to eliminate these that the President has resolved to employ the authority of Congress and tho Senate. Picketing and boycotting are to bo suppressed and adccpiato supervision of huge industrial combines is to bo instituted*. With whatever faults its working has exhibited tho legislation initiated by tho Government of this country for tho adjustment of trade differences is in advance of anything yet suggested abroad, and it is just possible that in cur system tho legislators of Great Britain and America may find the basis of a solution cf tho problem with which they aro confronted.

What is the future of tho world? is a question of captivatin'; interest to the human 1 mind.. From certain indications the weather prophet is able to forecast tho state of the atmosphere for a period of twenty-four hours. “History repeats itself,” says tho philosopher, and the seer is enabled from tho knowledge of tho-past to proclaim the future. As a man sows so shall ho also reap, saith tho preacher, and if the individual : s extravagant penury and want will assuredly be his portion. Industry is tho mother of prosperity, hut prosperity is tho encouragor of indolence, and indolence loadoth to vice and degeneracy. Thus it has been seen that tho wealth and power, and brilliancy of historical nations- have been followed by poverty and effeminacy and decay, they ultimately flitting from tho world’s stage, their memory but a name. Hut it is with tho future of the world in an industrial senso that Mr Carnegie, the philanthropic millionaire, dealt in his recent rectorial address at tho University of St. Andrew’s. The “sccr of bkibo” is an astute and worldly-wise Scotsman. Having mado his vast wealth as a king in tho industrial world, ho is entitled to bo heard with respect when discoursing upon a subject in which all classes of people aro mcro or less interested. Ho considers that Great Britain lips already been outstripped by tho United Slates in manufactures, and that Germany is rapidly assailing tho position now occupied by England. Ho had not. of course, hoard of the Gorman deficit of fifteen millions, nor had he been informed of the industrial and Agrarian depression which has overtaken the Fatherland. These may bo but passing phases of industrialism not affecting the prospective position of Germany as the rival of Great Britain; still, it is not plain that Germany will, under the existing circumstances, rapidly attain the position which Mr Carnegie predicts for

her. Thu position of ‘.ho groat America u republic j,/ not dispuied. She has vast arise, of ferule soil yet unoccupied. Tie -ie areas are attracting population at I)io iv,to of nearly one million ann!Jl v, ii ai, the rural population of Great iinlaii. is not only not increasing, 1 1 i< < i , d' i. bit estates iii’o falling one i/t cn!i ival um. Tiio surplus jiep nation or Great Britain is finding a home on

A suer! tan soil, amt although tlmro Inis leva an. exodus from the LTiilod States to tho Dominion tho number of Ann riKin farmers settling in Canada is hut a tsventic! It of the annual increase in America's pooida! ion. As population is of “prime imparlance in com itl'Ting the industrial development of nations,” the ITdti •:! Kinde-; muse easily Dike the lead in manufacture.-i, and as there is there un ahundauce of raw materials and an over-giuv.ur.g demand for commodities in tho .Homo market the United .Slates will stand in the future pre-emi-nent among the manufacturing; nations of tlm world. In this connection a passage from Mr Carnegie’s address is worth ((noting. Ho says the homo market is of more importance to a manufacturing nation than a foreign market, and proceeds: ‘'The home-market of America takes ninety-six per cant, of all manufactured articles; only four (mr cent, gees to foreign markets. Evan Brilain’s home-market takes four-fifths of her manufactures; anly one-fifth goes abroad. Politicians give far too much attention to distant foreign markets, which can never amount to much, and far 100 little to measures for improving conditions at homy which would increase tho infinitely more important home-mar-ket. If tiie people of tho United Kingdom could spend even one pound per head more per year, her homo commerce would be increased more (han tho total value of her exports to all of .Australasia, British North America, and China combined.” In all this there is food for reflection for those who rjro guiding’tile policy and forming tho destiny of New Zealand. The future of Hi© world's nations depends entirely upon trio unremitting energy and industry of their peoples.

Undoubtedly Mr Chamberlain’s tomthrough South Africa is tending greatly towards tho settlement of several difficult problems with which that territory is confronted. Tho destitute and oppressed aro being protected and relieved. Tho millionaire is becoming generous and tho formerly hostile Boer patriotic. All classes aro being actuated by a spirit of liberalism in tho best sense in promoting tho common weal. Tim Transvaal and_ Orange Colony wap votes aro assured. Tho capitalists cf tho Rand aro not only contributing freely, but aie increasing tho. wages of black labourers at tho suggestion evidently of tho Secretary of Stato for tho Colonies. Mr Chamberlain’s personal influence is great. Ho is seeing things for himself. Ho is not ati-aid to declare what ho secs, -and therein lies his strength as a statesman. Tho knowledge gained i n this tour will bo cf tho utmost utility to him in the future, and it is not jiossiblo to estimate its usefulness to the Empire. It is plain r. great effort is to ho made to obliterate all tho ravages made by a prolonged and devastating war. Money is to to spent in promoting tho well-being of South Africa. Real estate values are rapidly-advancing. There is a ready acquiescence in tho proposals of the Secretary, and apparently those best able to part with capital aro willing to lend vast sums to tho South African colonics for tho objects in view. It is to bo hoped that tho advancing of so much capital will not load tho jioliticians toadopt a policy of extravagance. Tho methods of tho War Office during the war and since have evolved tho severest criticism alike- from political friend and foe. One authority declares that Great Britain received only fifty millions in value for tho ono hundred millions spent on supplies for tho army in South Africa, tho other fifty millions going into tho pockets of tho contractors. Ono company, having a capital of less than naif a million is reported to havo cleared six millions sterling inside of two years!

From this it would appear as if tho War Oiiico knew littlo of its business, and cared less. This office, it may bo remembered, paid as much as lid per lb for meat under one contract, 7d under another, and Now Zealand’s AgcntGoceral has just pointed out that for two years tho War Office has been buying meat for South Africa which was inferior to Now Zealand af a price more than double what a superior quality could have been supplied for from this country. Mr Chamberlain will not, of course, enquire into tho methods adopted for the supplying of moat to tho troops remaining iu South Africa, but it is pretty certain that ha will note how much better it would be for future supplies to ho drawn from either this country or Australia. Indeed, it may have been at his instigation that tho present overtures aro being made for a supply of meat for the army from NSw Zealand. However, tt is not part .'of Mr Chamberlain’s mission to re-establish trade, but to prepare South Africa for tho peaceful development of all her resources, of enquiring into tho difficulties that beset her forward movement, and of discovering and applying such remedies ns tho wisdom and experience of a British statesman may devise. Tho labour question has already been partly solved. At Mr Chamberlain’s suggest tion the wages of Kaffirs have bocm"raised, but it is yet a moot point whether Asiatics may ho introduced into Sou til Africa. One thing is certain, that tho visit of tho Secretary of State for the Colonics has inspired confidence among those interested in mining, and the promptness with which the'" capitalists; aro subscribing tho war loans for tho Transvaal and Orange Colony speaks 1 well for tho prospects of a territory rich in natural wealth, but still dis-i tressed by a ruinous and extravagant i war. !

A story is told anions commercial 1 travellers representing woollen manufacturers that is appropriate to the sub.iect of this paragraph. A certain English woollen manufacturer whoso name was a household word over three counties in Great Britain, and well known in other parts, was travelling through this country, and was being shown over

one of the up-to-date woollen factories in New Zealand. Tim wool-shed where were slored tiie hundred or more hales was being visited. and tlm merits of tho colonial product were being extolled. Tho remark was made that doubtless tlm visiter would be a largo buyer of tlm New Zealand staple product, when, to tho consternation of tho New Zealand manager, the visitor oxeiaiumd; “I am a wooden .goods manufacturer. vou know: but I have never bad a bale of wool in my factory for years.” Tins seems scarcely credible, be recent returns show that it is not only perfectly feasible, Ivut absolutely tho fact in'unite a number of faclorms iu Great Britain. AVoolh-a goods, “quite innocent, of pure woo) ” were manufactured last year in England to tho value or considerably over two millions sterling. Thirty years ago there were only two or three rag teasing and weaving mills, and their total output was valued at less titan ono hundred thousand per annum. Thu manufacture of shoddy is objectionable on two counts. It displaces puru woollen goods, and a, meua.co to the public health. liio shoddy manufacturer is a competitor with the manufacturer of pure -■wools, and the cheapness of the fciiucr s pto—duct tends to lower tlm value of the hitter’s commodity and to keep down the price of wool to the grower. The product- known as “shoddy” Is frequently passed off to tho consumer as sound, good and pure wool, and the buyer is probably incapable of telling the difference between the genuine and the spurious article. But attention is being directed to this subject on the score of tho public health, and although opinions differ as to the exact effect the wearing of “shoddy” goods on tho health of individuals, some authorities affirm tha.b the kpreud of disease is largely attributable to it. “Tho primary consideration for tlm public to view' tho matter in is unquestionably that of health, and when it is distinctly stated that ‘shoddy’ mills receive quantities of raps, etc., to work up as woollen material, it makes one’s flesh creep at tho hare idea of being brought into contact with any garment in which such cast-off stuff may have boon used.’’ Bat that is not all. “The highest medical authorities,” observes “Dalgcty’s Review,” “unite in their condemnation of The traffic and introduction of those rags into tho manufacture of material for wearing apparel, as not only is the carriage and handling of them a source of danger to those directly engaged at tho work, bub they may also bo _ a vehicle for the spread of infections diseases.” The subject is one which concerns not only the wearer of woollen fabrics, hub tho grower of wool. Many persons imagine that they arc wearing woollen goods when they are really wearing “shoddy.” Tho tost is the price. “Shoddy” is kept and sold to people who will havo their garments 1 cheap and nasty’U Tbufc they little know The risks they run from a health point of view.while trio vending of woollen goods adulterated by the admixture of cast-off clothing from all classes tends to lower tho value of wool. Tho duty might bo raised upon goods of this quality and in that way avert mo chances of contagion and lesson tho effects of illegitimate competition.