THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15939, 5 December 1913, Page 6

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

TO THE EDITOK. Sir, —Never perhaps since the dawn of history has tho spirit, of discord and discontent prevailed all over the world as it does at tne present time; and by some unaccountable process has broken out simultaneously in every quarter of the globe, irom the centre of India to the wilds of Mexico. In different countries it appears in ditierent guises, 6uch as war, insurrection, revolt, and anarchy. It appears in Great Uritain and Ireland in a combination of Home Rule, militant and industrial unrest; in the latter form it has extended to our own dominion, with every indication of the Commonwealth to follow suit. In fact, the workers of the worJd seem to be now in open revolt against the present Existing order oi things. All this element of discontent and disorder, working at the same timo all over the world, with a tendency to combine, would seem to portend some dire calamity awaiting the human race at no great distant date.

An article that appeara in the columns of the Otago Daily.Times, giving extracts from the pen of that great scientist and profound thinker, the late Dr A. It. Wallace, gave very lucid reasoning as to the universal cause of discontent which were summed up in four heads: First, universal competition for the means of cxistenco and the remedy for this is universal co-operation. Second, a system of economic antagonism as if of enemies prevailing, and the remedy' a system of economic brotherhood aa if all belonged to one family; third, land monopoly in the lands of a few without access to which no life is possible, and capital, or the result of stored up labour, in the possession of a limited number of capitalists, the remedy being freedbm of acces3 to tho land and capital lor all; fourth, the social injustice of a few in each generation inheriting the stored up wealth of tho preceding generations, while the many inherit nothing. The remedy being to adopt the principle of equaJity and opportunity for all.

It may be that at the present 'time the party favourable to the remedy of universal co-operation is consolidating its ranks all over the world. The ninth' meeting has lately been held in Glasgow, at which hundreds of delegates from every country in Europe and America were present, and even delegates from China and Japan. This representative assembly was presided over by Earl Grey, the late Go-vernor-general ot Canada.- In his presidential address Earl Grey claimed for his association over 20 million members, who were bourid by no political motives, creed, country, or colour, but by a. combined interest of self preservation in reducing thp cost of living to the lowest possible unit by removing every barrier that stands in the way between the producer and consumer. This movement goes a long way in the right direction according to Dr Wallace's remedy, and should recommend itself to the industrial workers as a more effective weapon than that of the strike to meet the ends of j uetice and equality. The strike is the last weapon that should be resorted to for settling industrial disputes, and also the most dangerous to the strikers when it is placed in the hands of incompetent leaders. It seems the irony of fate that strikers should in every, or nearly every, instance select the same type of men as leaders; men who incite their followers on to riot and lawlessness. The advice of Daniel . O'Connell to his countrymen should be applicable, " Never to break the law, as he that oreaketh the law Rt.rengthcneth tho enemy.'' So, the enemy that the present strike is attacking is not capital but the community of which tho strikers themselves form part. They are their own enemies, therefore, as well as the enemies of the community which will collectively have directly or indirectly to pay for the loss sustained by the oountry on account of the strike. "The aims of Labour should be to combine and solidify so as to be able, at least in New Zealand, to demand its rights without the aid of force at the ballot box. At that critical point, however, its present tactics will tell against it for years to come, as it alienates public sympathy from the cause of Labour. And when bitter experience brinjps cool reason to bear the majoritv of the strikers themselves will see the folly of attempting the impossible on such trivial pretence as thoy have in the dominion for the present strike. Tho true champion of Labour has not yet appeared on the scene. What Mr Lloyd George will yet develop into is rather problematical. Evidently his sympathies are on the side of the weak and oppressed; and ho has all the fighting qualities that insure success against overwhelming odds; so that if lie succeeds in crushing the land monopoly at Home he will go a long way towards settling industrial disputes by giving an opportunity to all who are able and willing to settlo on the land. This would relieve tho congested condition of large cities; inoreaso the producers and produce, and consequently reduce, the cost of living; bring_ about lower renis; and abolish slums; raise the condition of the masses to a higher plane, and restore industrial peace. This is surely a worthy object to fight for. The oaiiso ia just arid mast ultimately be. crowned with victory.—l am, etc., P, C. G. Millers Flit, December L