THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12415, 26 July 1902, Page 6

THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

Mr Tom Mann may be congratulated upon the fairness and moderation' which marked his address 011 Thursday nig|it on the labour problem. With the whole of the statements he made and joe- , elusions he drew we do not proftVrro agree, but there was nothing exaggerated in the picture he sketched of the unequal distribution of wealth in the Old World to-day. It is unquestionably a reproach upon our civilisation that in tho City of London nlone, the wealthiest city in the world, where, as Mr Mann asserts, the most luxurious extravagance the, world has evfer known is goiug on froni' year's end to year's end, tliere are tens of thousands of people, not belonging to the crimiual classes, who have not a bed to sleep in, and who, when they, awake in the morning, know not where to get a crust to eat. Yet all the while tho uuiverse is producing more and l more. Great Britain herself is producing more than she ever did before. It is not, as Mr Mann says, an incapacity to produce that is responsible for the poverty and the starvation that are to be seen in the great cities of the world. The explanation which no gives of stances that have produced this strange anomaly of the close association ill one community of almost fabulous Wealth and direst poverty is not convincing, but it is perhaps hardly necessary that the causes, which are various, should be discussed. It is more pertinent to inquire what is to be the remedy. Mr Mann lias a generous faith in the power of public ownership. The substitution of public ownership for private ownership, of collectivism for individualism, is the remedy he would apply. Improvements are, he notes, already beips effected.

The advauces in locnl government that have been made in England in the past 15 years are credited by him with having contributed appreciably to the welfare of the body politic. Incidentally it is curious to remark that New Zealand, which is often spoken of by its rulers as the most progressive country under the sun, is regarded by Mr Mann as being "miles behind" the Old Country in regard to the municipalisation of public services. But, on the other hand, it is fair to remember that the operations of the London County Council, which is probably the most " progressive" of the local public bodies in England, nro not viewed with unmixed admiration at Home. The reform for which Mr Mann agitates is all to be conducted along peaceful line?, to which, so long as their adoption does not involve any injustice to individuals who are but the innocent representatives of a system that may or may not l)e improper, no great exception Can be offered.

In tlio House of Representatives the introduction of nn Imprest Supply Bill enabled members to discuss the financial position of the colony at some length before the bill was finally passed. In the evening the debate on the Loan Bill v.as continued, but not concluded. .'A fire broke out last night in a fouri roomed cottage in FilUul street mvnad by Mr Lang and occupied by Mrs James Oliver, The Five Brigade turned out with their Teel and succeeded in preventing much damage being done. The furniture was insured in the New Zealand ofiiee for £100. The fire.originated in one of the bedrooms. The brigado Teesived a "slill call." Mr .1. F. Arnold, M.11.R., arrived in Dimedin on Thursday evening on a flying visit in connection with some important public matters.; Mr Arnold attended the meeting of-the Otago Pentral Railway League yesterday, and met several deputations. He leaves again by the express for the north this morning.

'A - young man committed to Seaeliff Asylum escaped on Thursday from tho institution, the police receiving information about 7 p.m.; Nothing, however, was Been of the escapce-uiltil about 1 a.m. yesterday, when ho appeared in front of tlm liouSe of the medical man who had given a certificate for his committal brandishing a small nxo, and evidently intent on finding the doctor. Tho police, however, were on hand, and the lunatic was safely lodged in the police cells; and taken from thonce back to the «sylum.'

The Official Assignee, Mr 0. C. Graham, S.M., will take up his now quarters at the Law Courts on Tuesday, where commodious rooms have been provided. The position will, of courso, bo hardly so central and so convenient as the present offices, but so far as' the court work is concerned, Mr Graham aiid all the other officials concerned will -welcome the' change. Mr King, Registrar of. the Supreme Court, expects to be" flitting" about' the samo time, and already the rooms of his Honor Mr Justice Williams and Mr Stanford (judge's secretary) have been fitted up, A large portion of the old furniture will be used for tho new .court after undergoing a process of renovatioV Mr Justice Williams is expected back towards the end of next week, and possibly- may sit in Chambers before tl|e opening of the civil • sitting of tho Supromo Court on tho 4th prox.

Wo learn that Mr A. Montgomery, M.A., a.former distinguished pupil of our High {School and Otago University and School of Mines, has refeived the important appointment of State Mining Engineer of Western Australia. Mr Montgomery was iojmerly Government Geologist of 'Tasmania, arid .gave up tho position a few : ' years ago for that of manager of the Kauri Estates Gold' Company of Opitonui, Coromandel. His new appointment is a further proof of tho high estimation in which Otago mining students are'-held in Australia. He leaves this colony for Perth in October next.

Tho satisfactory returns which have been received of the results of shipments of chilled Canterbury mutton to Australia (says the- Lyttolton Times)' have caused a moveinept ii) the same, direction, and all tho space in botli tho Union and HuddavtParker boats. for a some time to come lines been secured, as also has the available space for Jive sheep. Several shippers have also arranged to ship a quantity of beef on deck. The beef will be chilled, and it is expected that after this process it will, easily keep until it reaches the Sydney market.

A new decoration for females (gays Truth) is to ho established by the King when tho Coronation takes place, or soon afterwards, and it will be known as tho Ldward and' Alexandra Order, according to present arrangements. The Royal Order of- Victoria and Albert, which her "late Majesty instituted in February, 1E62, and which was afterwards enlarged into four classes, will be allowed to die out. Very few additions had been'mado to this order of' late years by Queen' Victoria, The Victoria and Albert lias never ranked with tho Prussian order of Louise and the Russian order of St.' Catherine, which arc the highest ■ femalo decorations in the world. .

The provisions of tho proposed bill to amend "The Dunedin District Drainage and Scworage Act, 1900," entitled " An Act to Amend 1 The punedin District Drainage arid Sewerage Act, 1900,'" appear elsewhere in our columns.

News from Tonga states that a few weeks prior to Jul)' 19 several earthquakes were felt—some very sovero,—but no damage resulted.

Mrs Harrison Lee will give an address at tho" Central Mission service to-morrow evening ill tho Garrison Hall, as well as spoak at tho after-church meeting in the samo place.

Tim now organ at the Hanover Street Baptist Church is to bo formally opened at a concert and recital on Tuesday next at 8 o'clock by Messrs A. J. Ihrth and W. E. Taylor, assisted by Mia Moore, Miss Bartli, Mrs Toiid, and the church choir, which has been reinforced for the occasion by other voices. Tho programme includes organ selections, which will reveal tho fins quality of the now instrument, a violin solu, two vocal solos, and several splendid ehorusca by the choir. The event will appeal to tho musical portion of the community and to all who delight to liavo tho service of praise in the churches of the city excellently conducted. Tho Rev. John li. Ward will presido at tho recital, admission to which will.be'one shilling.

■The Choral Soeicty s next concert has been fixed for Tuesday, _ August 5. The feature of the concert win bo the- performance of Gade s Comola one of the purer class of cantatas, and noted for the grandeur of its ohoruses. Locke's "Music for Macbeth " will also form part of tho ovening's programme, and tho society's own orchestra 6omo 30 performers, under the loadership qf Mr E. Parker, will play one or two selections.

TO-MORROW'S CHURCH SERVICES, at. Paul's Cathedral.—Holy communion, 8 a.m,; catechism, 10 a.m.; matins, II a.m. (pieacher, the liishoe); evensong, C.30 nm (preacher, Archdeacon Robinson). St. Matthew's Church. Special dedication services.—Holy communion, 8 a.m.; nnitins 11 a.m.; evensong, G.li!) p.m. Preacher, Key' W. iI.A. All Saints' Chureh.-S ar.tl 11 a.m., ami 6.30 p.m. Preacher, Doau Fitchctt. First Church.—ll a.m. and 6.30 p.m., Rev. James Gibb. Trinity Wealeyan Church.—ll a.m. and 6.30 p.m., Rev. P. W. Fairc'.ougli. St. Andrew's Church.—ll a.m. and C.30, Rev. Dr Waddell. Wesley Church, Cavgill road.-ll a.m., Rev. X G. Brooke; US} p.m., ]k>v. Jos. Ward. Methodist Churches.—Mornington: 11 a.m., Rev. J. Ward; 6.30 p.m., Rev. T. G. Brooke. Roslyn: 11 n.m„ Mr Martin; 6.30 p.m., Rev. It. Wilson. Bellekmnvcs: 11 a.m., Rev. R. Wilson; 6.30 pm.', Mr Martin, Maori Hili; 11 a.m., Mr Smith. Mosgid: Mr A. Hopper. North-East Valley Presbyterian Church.— 11 n.m. and 6.30 p.m., Rev. D. Borrio. King Street CoßgregatioqaJ Church.—ll a,lll, anj| P-m.j Rev. G. Heighway.,

Methodist Centra! Mission, Garrison Hall.— j 11 a..m and 0.30 p.m., liev. W. A. Sinclair; 8 ; p.m., address by Mrs Harrison Leo ! Cwcrsham Baptist Church.—ll n.m. and ' 6.30 ii.ni. Rev. A. V. G. Chandler). Albany Street Ha 11.—6.30, Dr Cojnmrns.

Messrs Jamo.i Samson and Co. will sell at their rooms 011 Monday household furniture 'and cffects, and on Thursday, 14th prox.,'they will sell the leasehold properly o>! Thomas Tait at Patcaroa. Messrs Dalgety and Co. will sell at Gpre on Saturday rext, 2nd prox., a freehold farm 111 tho Gore district. Messrs Sievwright and Co. wili sell (it their 100 ms on August G the Orwell Creek dredge and claim. A dairy farm, consisting of 112 acres, iii the Purakanui district, is advertised for sale, A meeting of tha Southern Starr-Bowkctt Society will he hold on Tuesday evening for tho purpose of holding a ballot tor an appropriation of £500. The United Starr-Bowjcett Society will meet 011 Friday evening, when a free biillot for a" appropriation of £500 will take place. New members will participate. Mr E. R, Smith notifies that ho will ho a candidate for the position of auditor at the (■xtiaoKliiwrv genoral meeting of tho National Fire and Marine Insurance Company. The Psychological Society meets to-morrow evening at G.3Q p.m. At tho Theosoplucal Society's nsnal meeting to-morrow evening Mr 1). \V. M. Burn, H.A., will deliver a Iccturo on •'The Goal of Occultism." Special services will lie held at St. Matthew'# Church to-morrow in connection with tho first anniversary 0! the dedication of the church. Tho Kftikor.y Brass Band require a conductor. Applications for the position will he received up till August <!. / Memb:rs ot the Otago Lodge qt. Dinids and sister lodges are invited to attend the funeral i.f Bro. J. Hume to-morrow afternoon. Creditors of the Golden Vein Gold Dredging Company should forv.'or-d particulars of their claims, etc., to the liquidator (Mr" J. A. liopcraft) on or before August 3ft.'■ ' Mr Alexander Deans notifies that lip lins disposed of hi 3 interest in the Railway Hotel, V/'aikouaiti, to Mr James Matheson, to whom all accounts should li2 paid. On August 18 a public meeting will be (mid in the Council Chambers, South Buneuin, for tlii purpose of confirming the resolution passed at a special meeting, held cu tho 21st inst., with reference to the raising of a loan of iOtOO.

Tenders are invited (or the scouring of Duke's road ditch, East Toieri. Tho following first grade Rugby football matches will bo played this afternoon:— Alkembra v. Zingari-Richuiond, Caledonian Ground; Dunedin v. Southern, Carifbrook Ground; Kaikoraiv. Pirates, at Bishopicouvt. " Tho Candle of tho Lord " is to be the subject of the Rev. Jos. Ward's discourse in Wesley Church, Cargill road, to-morrow evening. The Eev. T. G-. Brooke, the former pasjor, i 3 to preach in the church in the morning.'.. l Miss C. Walker, trained masseuse, late ot Dr W. Somerville's Home for Neurasthenics, Glasgow, notifies that she is prepared to attend patients and give massage and physical exercises after the Swedish system. Miss Walker, who has also worked for Dr Crawford Rentou, Glasgow, and Dr Halliday Croom, Edinburgh, has taken up her residence at the Nurses' Home, 62 Royal terrace, Dunedin. The annual meeting of the Ministering Children's League, wliose annual ieoort was uublished yesterday, will be held at the CJirls' High School this affemoon. As will he seen by our advertisement columns, llio Dunedin Engineer Volunteers', seventeenth annual hall takes place on Friday next. ■ Great preparations have been made to furnish a spectacular display in tho grand march,' and patrons of the gallery can rely on •something quite new :n this direction. ' Mr Hendy, hairdresser, has G, R, Sims's " Tatcho," tho great Hair Promoter, for sale, in,all sizes. Try it,—Advt, G. and T. Young beg to draw attention to their appointment as Watchmakers and Opticians to his Excellercy the Governor. Inspection of their magnificent stock is-jnvited,—> Advt, King Tea and King Coffee prize competition closes December 1. Cot a good start by.starting now. Quality to please a king.—Advt. Don't be humbugged by the offer of Guinea Prizes with your Tea. How many of you could obtain these Golden Guineas? Oijly a few out o! thousands. Save yourself disappointment by using "Book Gift'' Tea, with every 61b of which you can choose a book from our extensive catalogue free, and thus obtain wisdom, beside which gold is dross,' Ask your grocer for catalogue.—Advt. Who is Peter Dick?— The most reliable Watchmaker and Jewollo- opposite Coffee Palace, Moray place, Dunei' \ Charges stricllj moderate,—Advt

Ping-pong is all very well, but what about the linoleum on the floor? The best thing is to ■ use Senior's Linoleum Reviver and thus keep both table and floor covering in gbod order. All grocers'; Is per bottle.—Advt. >