A SIGN OF THE TIMES.

Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12159, 6 February 1908, Page 4

A SIGN OF THE TIMES.

The New York "Journal of Commerce" of a recent date states that the depression has caused the discharge of many workmen. To ascertain their number was difficult, as employers showed no willingness to admit that they cannot 'maintain their full quota of hands. The "Journal" can account for 178,000, and quotes a representative body of engineers, which raises the figures to 200,000. Unskilled labour, too, Is migrating at a rate hitbero 1 unknown in American history, thus thimng the ranks of the unemployed, but, even so, a time of lower wages and labour competition seems approaching. At a recent conference of the Steel Trust it was unanimously decided to re-

strict output, to main tains prices, and to refuse, [unless under"Cexceptional circumstances, to " accept cancelling orders. Accordingly, 25,000 men bave^been paid off, arid many more are expected to follow them.