THE Otago Daily Times. DDNEDIN, MONDAY, MARCH 22.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2223, 22 March 1869, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. DDNEDIN, MONDAY, MARCH 22.

The question rake*! by the employers of labour in this colony with regard to the rate of wages, is one of very general intercut Their complaints are not unreasonable ; but their argutnentH arc not alway* supported by very accurate reasoning. It has been lately argued, for instance, thnt the rate of wages here bears no proportion to the rate of profits, and that therefore it ought to be reduced until hucli a proportion in arrived at. In the mother country, it i* urged, a fall in profits in invariably attended by a fall in wage* ; and a similar result ought to take place here. The fallacy of this reasoning is transparent. If tho rate of wages were fixed by a Court of Conscience, labourers would never be allowed to demand high wages when employers were unable to make high profits. But the rate of wages depends on natural laws, with which conscience has nothing whatever to do. In tho fir»t place, the circumstances which decide the rate of wages in Europe hear no analogy to the circumstances which decide it in the colonies. In the one, there in unlimited competition in the labour market, while in the other there is comparatively little. TheHe are the conditions which determine tho rate of wages. As to the rate of profits, it is evident that, while in Europe it must materially affect the rate of wages, it cannot affect wages in the same degree or to t?je same extent in tho colonies. That ia the great misfortune of our employers. Whatever the state of tho markets may be, it can make little difference to them in the matter of wago«. A fall in wool in London does not necessitate a fall in wages in Otago : simply becaiiße it does not affect the state of tho labour market in the slightest degree. If tho profite of the runholder are SO per cent less now than they were three yeara ago, it may seem unreasonable that he should be compelled to pay the same wages to his labourers. But to whatever extent his profits may'iw lessened, he can hope for no relief, so far as the question of wages ie concerned, until labourers become far more plentiful than they are.

A still greater fallacy consists in the idea—rather implied than asserted— that the high rate of wages complained of is owing to an unrighteous combination on the part of the labourers. The labourers have no more to do with fixing the rate of wa#es than the employ-^ era. If it were otherwise, the two classes would be in constant hostility— the one endeavouring to raise wages, and the other endeavouring to lower them. That result is witnessed only in the case of Trades Unions, or other associations of the kind formed for the express purpose of regulating the price of labour. The employers who complain most loudly are farmers and runholders, and perhaps they have most reason to complain loudly. There is no combination on the part of farm and station hands to maintain the rate of wages at an artificial figure. It is consequently absurd to address them in the tone of re monstrance, aa is sometimes done. It is useless to point out to them that profits are no longer what they used to be—that wool is falling and oate are falling—that a collapse must come unless there is a reduction of wages, and where will the labourer Iks then? No doubt if the labourer would consent to a redaction, it would benefit himself eventually. A collapse would deprive him of employment, or compel him to accept a much lower rate of wages than he would fancy; while a timely reduction would tend to avert such a calamity. But we cannot complain of the labourer who refuses to listen to such an argument, or accuse him of ruining the country by his obstinacy; any more than we should upeak in the same teniw of the employer who refused to accept a lower rate of profits for the sake of doing good to other people. It is very possible, moreover, aa a correspondent lias hinted, that a lower rate of wages would bo morally beneficial to the labourer, by teaching him the value of money as well as the folly of dissipation; But the moral benefit of the labourer is a matter for his own consideration entirely. There can bo no doubt that the rate of wages in Otago especially is higher than it ought to be; and there can be no doubt too that if it could be reduced by legitimate means, the employer would be all the better and the labourer none the worse. At the first view, it might be pronounced a monstrous1 violation of the fitness of things that wages in Otago should be at least 20 per cent, higher than they are in Victoria. There is no self-evident reason why a bad domestic servant in the one place should cost £35 a year, while a good one may be got in Hho other

for ; £,25. But a moment's enquiry will satisfy any one that such a state of things is simply the inevitable result of existing circumstances. To remedy the evil we must remove the cause ; and that may be done without much difficulty. Immigration must be promoted in the first instance; and in the second, all artificial restrictions which tend to increase the cost of living must be swept away. The rate i of wages can never bo low in young countries' where tho price of necessaries is high. Money is merely an equivalent for necessaries; and in fixing the money value of labour, regard must of course be had to their prices. There is no reason why the actual necessaries of life should cost more in this colony than they do in Australia. The operation of the tariff renders prices, in some respecte, higher than they ought to be, and there can be no doubt as to the necessity of remodelling it A laudable and not unsuccessful attempt bus recently been made to reduce the price of meat. Such an example should be followed out in other directions as far as possible. When that is done, all classes will be benefited by the change; and the labourer, who will be benefited most, will not Huffer by the reduction in hiswages which such, a change would involve.

Tho Hand sad Heart Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F, will meet this evening at 7-30.

The annual soiree of Hanover street Baptist Church will take place to-marrow even* ing. when several of our city ministers and other gentlemen are expected to) be present and address the meeting.

The comptttion for the riflo presented by Captain Brrgood to the Volunteers of Ot»go, and won by the Dunedin Artillery, will be competed for by the members of the latter corps to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock.

A Concert, under the patronage of His Honour the Superintendent, His 'Worship tho Mayor, and the A.0.F., is announced to be given this evening at tho Masonic Hall, ia aid of W. O'Conneil, who met with an accident whilst working on the building.

We learn that Mr Morrison of tbe Robert Burn* Hotel, George street, died somewhat suddenly on Saturday night at nine o'clock. Tbe deceased was in tho bar at between 6 and^ 7 o'clock on the same evening, hnt had been unwell for some days provisos to his death.

On Saturday afternoon Mr Cutten, whilst driving in bis buggy along the Anderson's Bay road, had a narrow escape from a serious accident, by a hone shying against tho horse he was driving. Tho shafts of the buggy were brbktn, but no further injury was done.

Our Blocks correspondent states that the fimt ball of the Blacks Temperance Society came off on tho 18tb,'and was attended by 50 persons. The surplus proceeds, amounting to about LI 3, will be given to the Clyde Hocpital.—The oat crop at Blacks is fully double what it was last year.

la another column will bo foa&d the names of candidate* nominated for the representation of St. Paul's and All Saints', Danedin, and the Caveraham District, in the Synod of Donodin. We have been informed that Mr J. Smith, having been nominated for two other districts, v not » candidate for 8t Paul's Parish, bat has withdrawn in favour of Mr 11. Howorth.

Yesterday, at about half-put five in the afternoon, a horse wu seen coming at the top of bis speed down Prince* street from the direction of the Water of L«itb, baring attached to him a portion of a buggy, consisting of a pair of shafts, half an axle, and one wheel On arriving opposite the Bank of Otago, he fell, and the constable os duty, aided by some of the cabmen from the stand, promptly relieved him from bis inenmbranoe*. The remainder of the buggy waa left in the Ootagon, bat we could not learn to whom it belonged. We believe that the accident took place throngh the pin connecting tbe foro axle with tho body breaking, and that nothing more snrioas than the breakage occurred.

At the Besideofc Magistrate's Court on Saturday, James Kennedy and Thomas Eith wero each mulcted in small amounts for drunkenness. Mr W. 0. Marison presided.

The following was the state of H.M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending on Saturday last:— Penal servitude, 20 men ; hard labour, 77 men and 10 women ; imprisonment, 2 men; in default of bail, 3 men and 1 woman ; debtors, 4 men; total, 10S men and li women. * Twelve men and 5 women wero received during tho week, and 7 men and 4 women were discharged daring the same period.

A correspondent, in reply to enquiries made as to William O'Connell's condition at the time of tbe accident which, befell him daring the building cf the Masonio Ball, states that he was perfectly sober at that time. The facts wero fheso:—O'Cunnell, with others, was adjusting an iron girder over two tons weight, and while the girder was being lowered, it slipped sad struck aim violently on tho head. He fell senseless on the top of the narrow brick wall, and slowly glidi-d over the side, bat he was prevented descending headlong to tbe street, a depth of about 30 feot, >/y the girder having fallen upon the heel of his boot. That which has partially disabled him thus saved his life. Ho has a wife and five children ; hence the efforts made on his behalf.

We nndentand that the Horticultural Society purpose having another show during the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to Danedin, and th*fc with a view to aid in forming a prize food for that occasion, Captain Fraser and Messrs K. Gillies and A. Beverly, retained the prize money obtained by them at the show held on Friday la»t. We trust their praiseworthy example will be largely followed.

A sad accident ooonrred to one of the lads on board the ship Warrior Queen on Saturday forenoon. It appears that tho boy had tamed round sharply from the dock noose, and forgetting that the main hatch was open, fell down the hold, a distance of 20 feet, upon * ca«o of oorrngated iron. Medical: assistance was sent for, and Dr Drysdale went on board, and did what he could to alleviate the poor fellow's ■uttering. It is believed that; hi* spine ia injured. He waa conveyed to the Hospital in the afternoon, the Golden Age steamer bringing him to Daoedin. ' ■ ..".■,:... Onr Otepopo correspondent, writing on Friday last* informs vm that harvest operations have been carried on in that district very industriously by the fanners tat the last month. The weather has been excellent for harvwtttg, and Uw crops aw nearly all

•tacked, with the exception of tho»e on tho flat ntir the township. Tho farmers la general Appear to bo satisfied with the returns.—The Acclimatisation Society ml bo glad to learn that on Wednesday last two coveys of partridges were seen in Otopopo. Tho birds were Tery strong on the wing, and appeared healthy. Several phaMa&it» have also been teen lately in the Big Both Ee«crvc ■

The Galatea, one of tho three dredges in operation at Alexandra, made an attempt to commence working a few days ago. The river, however, was still too high, and tho attempt consequently proved unsuccessful. One of tho dredges lately constructed, of which mention has already been made in oaroolumna, made a similar effort, but was equally unsuccessful. The men, however, are by no means daunted by their failure, and expect to be able to work without interruption in the course of a few days.

A second brewery is about to be erected at Wetherstones by Messrs Bastings and Kofocd, the proprietors of the one already in operation there.

A mining work of some magnitude has been coianfenced at Switiers. A new flaming is being constructed there which will c*rry Carney's well-known race at a higher level than that which it has at present It is estimated that the work will cost about LSOO.

Tho bread controversy is still going on at Tuapeka with undiminished vigour. Kumorous complaint* are made that the bread sold by tho- bakers in the district is very much under full weigh*. The approaching visit of tho newly, appointed Inspector of Weights and Measures is eagerly expected.

Bacholder's Panorama of the American War is making a tour through the goldfields of this province at present. During the past week it has met with great success at Nacosy, whence it will prooeed to Clyde and Qaecnatown.

The whole of tho block of load recently thrown open for agricultural settlement at tho Tcviot, is said to bo taken up. The scene at the Court-house, when it was made known that applications for land in the block would bo received, is described as follows in the Tuapeka Times of Saturday :—Long before the hour for opening the offic?, crowds of would-be oockatooa assembled at the door, and an exciting struggle ensued for places. When Mr Borton made his appearance, he could hardly gain admission ; and no soonor had ho opened tho door than, in spite of all his remonstrances, tho offico was rushed. A large pile of applications soon littered the counter ; and as each applicant got his receipt, he made a bolt for tho door, and, mounting his horse, harried off to affix his notice.

A South Australian journal, discussing the paymcnt-of-memberit-question, remarks :— Payment of members is not a favourite principle in England, and wo think it would be altogether out of place there. We do not think it has yet many champions in South Australia. But necessity is a hard master, and if the public find they cannot be properly represented withont its aid, we supposo their prejudices will give way to their necessities. Talent and wealth aro not synonymous. A heavy purse and political honesty do not always go hand In hand, and tt would be well if constituents were in the position to choose the beat man without regard to the stamp that Dame Fortune has put upon him. Till then the outlying portions of these colonies at all events will not bo fairly and equally represented; nor will they till talent And political honesty take precedence of mere wealth and ambition.

At» recent fire at the Nelaon Creek diggings, Grey district, water being scarce, a barrel of ale was started, and the liquor cm. ployed to put out the fire.

On Saturday evening last, Mr Rayner, an actor whose abilities are generally recognised throughout the Australian colonies, made his first appearance at the Prinocsa Theatre, in the well-known and often abused play of "The Lady of Lyons." His rendering of the principal character was high • toned, manly, and dignified. He made all the principal points tell with the audience, naturally and without any undue straining after effect. His best scenes undoubtedly were those with Faulire in the third and fourth act* ; but in the fifth, when he hears of his wife's supposed perfidy, his grief fell short of the dignity of manliness. As Pauline, Mrs Jaokson has only shownjus to what a position in hor profession she will rise in the future, if she devotes herself exclusively and aasidnously to the cultivation of the gonina with which she is endowed; Her acting in the scene in which she first be. comes aware of her husband's real standing breathed -of that fiery sarcasm with which a wronged proud woman would naturally olothe her language when brought for the first time to the fnll sense of her position. Norwasahe a whit less auoocMfal in the love passages between herself and Claude in the second act. With Mr Rayner she waa called before the curtain at the end of the three last acts. The other characters were well Ailed. To night, Hamlet is to be brought out,