THE DAILY OTAGO TIMES. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1892.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9338, 1 February 1892, Page 2

THE DAILY OTAGO TIMES. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1892.

It is not only in New Zealand that statesmen, economists, and philosophers are puzzled at the position of the labour market. That side by side with a whole continent of untilled Crown lands, and in the midst of a population possessing most of the hard won gains of advanced civilisation, with the fewest possible disadvantages entailed by progress on older communities, there should be a considerable class of " unemployed " in Australia is a fact so amazing as to demand grave consideration. A paper by a Mr W. Maston, on what he somewhat loosely terms "The Surplus Labour Problem," formed the subject of discussion by the Australian Economic Association at Sydney last month. The causes given by Mr Maston for the unsatisfactory state of the labour market in Australia were as follow : (1) The natural increase of population ; (2) immigration ; (3) the conversion of small employers into wage-earners; (4) the introduction of labour-saving machinery. It will be clear to any student of political economy that the assigning such causes only as these for the growing evil of the unemployed exhibits a, lamentable absence of sound knowledge. We take leave to think that, with the exception of number three, all the given causes may at once be set aside and treated as facts outside the question at issue. We have neither space nor inclination to discuss them here. For the very title of Mr Maston's paper contains a most illogical assumption wholly unwarranted by facts. Surplus labour is a misnomer. How is it possible for an. intelligent observer even to suppose such a thing can be in face of all the conditions under which colonists live. Mr Maston assumes that there are

too many labourers in New South Wales — so mciny that no useful work can be found for them nil to do. Professor Scott; in the course of the discussion exploded the radical absurdity of such a statement, when he said, "What we all want,, and the poorest of us most of all, is more of the products of labour, and to this end the labour of every man in the colony (the more the better) is urgently wanted by himself and by others too. So long as there is ono such want unsupplied, it certainly cannot be excess of labour power from which we are suffering." There appeared, however, to be a general consensus of opinion that the most accurate way to describe the

cause of the existing evil was '• irregularity of employment." One of the speakers put it thus: "It must be allowed that here tha main hardship which the wage-earning classes suffered under wai not insufficient remuneration, or overwork, it was uncertainty of employment. This dread shadow, uncertainty, afflicted all classes alike."

How far this irregularity of employment is a removable evil, and if it be so, what are the best remedies, was practically the subject the Association set itself to discuss. Before dealing with the proposed remedies, such as a State farm, State labour bureaus, &c, it may be as well to point out one or two matters which seem to have escaped the attention of the Association in dealing with the matter. It must be remembered, first of all, that under an individualistic economic system regular employment to the wage-earner necessarily implies the possession—or, at least, the command of accumulated capital. There must be under the control of the manager of an industry, large or small, a fund for wages which can continue to be paid though the return on the outlay is postponed. Uuiess there is such a fund, the business, whatever it is, will be of a handto-hand character. Employment will be spasmodic unless the stable element of capital enables the employer to wait. Compared with older communities there is much less accumulated capital in the colonies under individual or associated control. Tho conditions are such that we roust expect to find a considerable demandf for labour for short periods, succeeded by a period when the demand is very slack, every possible care being taken to do with as little labour as possible. High wages intensify this, since the farmer or manufacturer finds no shorter road to economies than the dismissal of all labour that can by any means be done without. The wool and wheat harvests attract nomad bands of workers who pass on when the work is done, leaving the scene of their toils comparatively unpopulated, to find themselves when the harvest is over among the unemployed. The shearer may get his average 12s per diem for a few months, or the harvester one-third less, but he must know that this happy state of things cannot continue—he must suffer from irregularity of employment. These are the conditions of colonial life_ which cannot be altered, and which must be accepted as beyond the control of economists or of parliaments. Probably while thoughtful men are designing State farms, labour bureaus, &c, &c, it would be well if more attention were given to inculcating frugality and providence on all concerned — those simple primary virtues of self-restraint, self-denial, the laying by for a rainy day, which result in independence? Even members of Parliament have found out that an honorarium of Ll5O was not the practical equivalent of L 3 per week. It seems much the same, but to most men there is a difference. Politicians, like shearers, have been known to knockdown their cheques. Discussing Mr Maston's remedies, a Mr J. T. Walker divided the so-called surplus labour into (1) the thriftless or fushionless; (2) those subject to disease hereditary or acquired, or of other misfortunes beyond their own control. For the first class his remedy is a labour bureau, and for the second charitable aid. The division and the remedies alike seem to us to betray a lamentable ignorance of the subject—a remark applicable to many of the speeches made. The proper line of division is : " (1) The unfortunate, including those who suffer from the sins of others, whether parent or husband ; (2) the criminal, including the self-indulgent, indolent, & c ." Again, the remedies prescribed, assuming them to be useful as far as they go, only land us at the very threshold of the difficulties. Mr Walker, in common with many other speakers, expressly pointed out that we must be careful in suggesting remedies to " avoid striking at the root of personal responsibility, selfreliance, and self-restraint." But this is only a statement of a difliculty on which all are agreed. How is the imminent danger of destroying selfreliance to be avoided? Wo search the utterances of the members of the Economic Association in vain to get an answer. While one speaker after another supported or opposed the proposition of a State farm on co-operative principles whereon the temporarily unemployed might earn a livelihood, there was no attempt to distinguish between the proper treatment of the two great classes—those, namely, who do want work, and those who don't. The honest workman out of employment should and must be assisted with a liberal hand until he once more gets his feet under him. The idle and selfindulgent may be rightly left to eat the hard bread of idleness, but the Economic Association has not thrown much light on the vexed question of how best to deal with the two classes

The mail steamer Mariposa made the run from Sydney to Auckland, where she arrived on Saturday, in 3 clays 16 hours.

A supplementary Gazette notifies that 12 words can now be sent in telegrams instead of 10. The usual rate allowance for address and signature is, however, reduced to six words instead of 10. The change applies both to ordinary and delayed telegrams.

The inspector of police has received information that James Sierck, a labourer on the Otago Central railway, near Taieri Lake station, committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor at 11 o'clock on Friday night. Deceased appeared to have suffered great pain internally, and had expressed a wish that God would take his life. He was being attended to by his mates when he seized a razor and cut his throat, pointing to that part whore the pain was. Death was almost instantaneous. Deceased was a native of Sweden, about 4-7 years of age, and had been in the colony some 20 years. He was married, and his wife resides at Balfour, Southland, but there is no family.

The General Synod meets at Wellington next Wednesday. The Bishop of Dunedin leaves to-day, and Archdeacon Edwards will act as his commissary during his absence.

At fchu first pay clay on the Seaward Bush co-operative labour works the different gangs drew from 6s 3d up to 7s 3d per day.

A meeting of temperanco workers was held in the Temperance Hall, Invercargill, on Friday evening, to make arrangements for the approaching visit of Mr E. Tennyson Smith, tho second Gough. It was resolved to request the clergy of the town to forego their week-day evening services during the week of tho mission ; that the choirs of the churches ho asked to combine and lead tho singing; that the churches be requested to join in a united prayer meeting to ask a blessing on the mission; that the Sunday school superintendents be requested to bring their respective schools to the united service for children on the afternoon of Sunday, February 7th, and that a meeting of workers be held on Tuesday night to make arrangements for the reception meeting to welcome the lecturer on Friday evening next.

During the month of January 106 births, 50 deaths, and 26 marriages were registered in Dunedin. Por the corresponding month of last year the statistics were: Births, 110'; dea.ths, 40; marriages, 26.

At Wednesday's meeting of the City Coy mcil Cr Fish will move for a return of the m< >ncy expended in advertising. Cr Swan will move to rescind the resolution authorising tho proceeding with the laying of gas and water pipes to tho Salvation Army barracks.

The Eegistrar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths (Mr W. J. Hall) issued last month.; 130 certificates of birth for production to tho inspector of factories, as evidence to that official that the provisions of the Factories Act as to the age of employes are complied with.

The ordinary meeting of the Mosgiel Poutttry, Pigeon, and Canary Society was held on Sa.turday evening. There was a good attendance, and the report and balance sheet showed the society to be in a very flourishing condition. It was resolved that in future birds be shown singly, not in pairs as hitherto, and that the next show be held on the last Saturday in June. The election of office - bearers resulted as follows : — President, Mr James Oughton; vice-president, Mr John Rankin; committee— Messrs A. Millar, G. Murdoch, W. Turnbull, James Fleming, J. C. Smith, W. Fairley, W. Dixon, J. Renton, T. Elliott, A. Hart, R. Gall, John Gilmour, James Millar, John Rouan, J. Lillico, W. Smith, John Craig, John Findlay, jun., D. Mackay, W. Charters, D. T. Shand, and W. Aitken. Mr G. Hicks was elected secretary, and Mr James Renton treasurer.

Messrs H. Gourley and W. Gregg, J.P's., presided at the Police Court on Saturday morning, when Mary Orton, for keeping two unregistered dogs, was fined 2s, without costs.

At a special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, held on Saturday forenoon, Mr Peter Barr, the secretary, was appointed the returning officer for the election by the chamber of a member of the Harbour Board.

The Riverton Star reports that three Dunedin tourists, after having viewed the Sutherland Falls, returned home by way of the Waiau river, crossing Lake Manapouri en route, and arrived safely at Orepuki on Wednesday night. William Crooks, a lad of 14 years, fell off a dray loaded with coal which he was driving at Ashburton on Saturday morning. The wheel passed over his loins, and he died a quarter of an hour afterwards. At a special meeting of the North-East Valley School Committee held on Friday evening Mr Charles O. Lillie was unanimously recommended for the position of third assistant in the school, vice Mr James Valentine, 8.A., promoted. 'There was again a great scarcity of tenders at the meeting of the Clutha County Council, on Friday last, so much so that some road works, for which tenders have repeatedly been called had to be abandoned for the present. The wages paid by contractors generally throughoutjthe county is 7s a-day for good men, and if small gangs of men were to tender they could make this rate of wage with the contractors' profits added; but, although advertisements calling for tenders for road works have been sent to the Labour Bureau, Dunedin, there was no response.

The settlers in the Waimea Plains, Lumsden, Wendon, Wendonside, Waikaia, and surroundI ing districts will learn with pleasure that after the end of February, in time for the grain season, the special rate on goods carried on the Waimea line will be discontinued. Mr H. S. Valentine, M.H.R., has had a long interview on the subject with the Railway Commissioners, and after the whole question had been gone into fully it was decided that the time had arrived when the special rate could be abolished. Mr Valentine has never missed an opportunity of bringing the subject before the commissioners and department, biit at the same time he has impressed upon settlers that they must exercise patience, as he was convinced the commissioners would relieve the settlers at the earliest moment that the obligations under which the line rested for the payment of special interest on the purchase money to the Government Insurance department could be met with out of the traffic. Mr Valentine is to be congratulated on the success which has attended his efforts, and the settlers interested will no doubt recognise the efforts he has made on their behalf.

The annual picnic of Messrs A. and T. Burt'i employes, held at the Kaik on Saturday, was very largely attended. In the early morning the steam ships Onslow and Plucky left th« Rattray. street wharf crowded with passengers for the Kaik, aad later on in the day the Onslow also conveyed a number of persons to the same place from Port Chalmers. The usual sports' programme was carried out upon arrival at the picnic ground, besides which games of various kinds were set on foot. A considerable number of those prese»t likewise indulged in dancing to the strains of music supplied by the Caversham Band. The weather remained fine till late in the afternoon, and although the rain then set in, it did not interfere much with the enjoyment of the picnickers, who returned to Dunedin early in the evening, well pleased with the day's outing. j

There was only a fair attendance at the City Hall on Saturday evening, when the phonograph was exhibited here for the last time. As usual, Mr Kelly's remarks on the machine proved interesting and instructive, and the various records were reproduced to the apparent full satisfaction of the audience.

The platform of the Garrison Hall has often been occupied by celebrities. To-night it will be trodden by the greatest of them all—the man who found Livingstone, the explorer who tracked the mighty Congo for 3000 miles from its source to the sea, the founder and first Governor of the Congo Free State. More than five years have elapsed since Mr H. M. Stanley arranged with Mr R. S. Smythe to visit these colonies. Since then the Columbus of Central Africa has led to a successful issue the most eventful and terrible of all his expeditions— the quest for Emm Pasha. All the world knows how, after having been lost and given up as dead for many months, the hero of the Dark Forest, his task accomplished, suddenly returned to civilisation ; how on his landing at Dover he received a more than royal welcome ; how on [reaching London 800,000 people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the hero ; how in Edinburgh the students took the horses from his carriage and themselves dragged it through the picturesque streets ; and how he was afterwards married to the gifted Dorothy Tennant, the lineal descendant of Oliver Cromwell, in Westminster Abbey. This is the man who, m fulfilment of an engagement made with an enterprising manager five years ago, will make his first bow to a Dunedin audience to-night.

Mons. Leon-Driver, the eminent solo pianist, has a preliminary announcement in our advertising columns respecting his approaching season in Dunedin. From private communications we have received from good judges in the North Island respecting his ability as a pianist we think it may confidently be said that there is a treat in store for the Dunedin public.

As will be seen by an announcement in another column, Mr W. J. MacLaughlin's farewell concert takes place at the City Hall next Wednesday, and judging by the names of the ladies and gentlemen who are assisting, it should be one of the most successful concerts of the season.

Messrs James Samson and Co. will sell to-day ladies jackets.

Mr John Grindley (on behalf of the Farmers' Agency Company) will sell grain and produce this morning. Madame Nordska has an announcement in another column on the subject of palmistry and character reading. Entries for the St. Clair swimming tournament next Saturday close on Wednesday afternoon with Mr btark, at the baths, or Mr Wise hon secretary.

lhe Mutual Agency Company will hold their monthly stock sale at Milton on Thursday Messrs Donald Heid mid Co. will hold a sale of gram ami produce to-day; to-morrow they will sell at the Taiori salaj-ards, blacksmiths' and carpen' ters tools, turning lathe, &c,

Miss Annette Wilson wUI not resume teaching till the Bth inst. 6

Die sale of the Mount Stoker flock lias been postponed by the Mutual Agency Company from the 15th inst. to Thursday, the 18th inst. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. will hold a sale of grain to-day. Messrs James A. Park anil Co. will sell on Saturday next the steam dredge, claim, and water rights belonging to the Clutha Gold Dredeine Company; on the Bth inst. they will sell the Woodlands estate at Wakari, and afterwards shares in tho Naseby Pastoral Investment Society on the 15th they will sell freehold land with dwelling house, with frontages to Brown and Russell streets; on tho Kith inst. they will sell the steam dredga claim, &c, of the White Cliffs ?u o1 oo^ red? n5 poml'any. duller river; and on the 23rd and 24th inst. they will sell the extensive machinery, plant, and tools of the Otago We have received from Mr Brnithwaitc a publication entitled Is Cancer Curable ? The Cancer Controversy-Mattei v. the Knife-How it began; how it ended." The little work is by Samuel Kennedy, F.R.C.S.E, &c, &c., and, as its title indicates, it contains a variety of information on this deeply interesting subject. Mr Stead's character sketch of Count Mattel is republished from The Review of Reviews " The Railway department, on the occasion of Mr Stanleys lecture on "The Finding of Livingstone to-morrow night, have arranged to run special trains to Milton and Palmerston after -the lecture ior the convenience also of country visitors the lecture to-morrow night will not begin till a quarter past 8. Wo have received " Stone's Monthly Guide and JJiary, which now contains an index to contents, and advertisements also. A new blend of tea, called tho "Spring Blossom, is being introduced to the public through Messrs Neill and Co., the Dunedin agents. A number of advantages are claimed for the blend, which will be brought prominently before the public in a few days. n"«>nwy 4.v. Ti uv' dental surgeon, desires to announce that he has secured and equipped, with the most approved appliances in high-class dentistry, suitable offices at 112 Princes street, immediately opposite Cargill's monument.—lAdvt 1 Marriage Presents.-G. and T. Young notify the arrival of three further shipments of new goods. Their stock of novelties is the largest in the colony, their goods the best, and their prices the lowest. Inspection invited.—[Advt 1 John Hislop, Watchmaker and Jeweller. 74 Princes street. The oldest established house in w\ Repairs of all kinds. Good assortment Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery. Spectacles to suit all sights.—Advt

Established over a quarter of a century Of other sodawaters that have come under our notice and take a very high place in Australasia, we would be remiss if we did not mention that of JoSl.l&vri C°- D^din.-Brewers i understand that Frank A. Coxhead, assisted oy Mr John Ueauchamp, is now taking enamelled cabinet portraits at the small price of 10s 6d per dozen, for one month, only. A free invite to all to inspect his magnificent premises in Princes street opposite Colonial Bank. Take the elevator. —ladvt.j Eden George and* Co. (Limited), the leading photographers of Dunedin, who produce by far the best work m New Zealand, take one dozen beautifully enamelled cabinets in any position or style for 15s. One price list adopted, and no extra charges are made to visitors from the country — [Advt.] j*