DISPLACEMENT OF LABOUR BY MACHINERY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7170, 14 September 1886, Page 4

DISPLACEMENT OF LABOUR BY MACHINERY.

1^ the report of the United States Labour Commission the question of the displacement of labour by machinery is entered on, and a lar^e amount of interesting information is given. It is shown that 100 persons by the aid of machinery, mnke as many women's boots and shoes as 500 persons could make without the aid of machinery. It formerly took one man thirty five days to produce a certain stylo of carriage. Now one man, by the aid of machinery, will produce the same carriage in twelve days. The most striking displacement of labour is that brought about by the Standard Oil Company by the aid of its pipe lines, displacing 5700 teams of horses, and not less than 10,000 men, who would be employed in transporting the oil to the several railroad depot or markets. The product of oil for the whole country is set down nt 57,000 barrels a day. The steam nnd water power employed in the United States for manufacturing purposes represents in horse power 3,500,000. If only men were employed to furnish this power, it -would require 21,000,000. There are in the United States 28,000 locomotives. To do the work of these locomotives, npoa ths common roads of the country, would require 54,000,000 horses and 13.500,000 men. But this work is now done by 250,000 meD. The present cest of operatiag the railroads of the country with steam power ia 502,600,000d01. per annum. Hut to accomplish the same amount of work with horses would cost the country ll^OS^OOjOOOdol.

Two well-known Wellington citizens •were walking together in the street, when a third, noticing their massive proportions, sugges'ttd that ihey should be weighed. The idea was accepted, and the pair turned the scale at 6191b5. Ihe weight of one was 225t., the other 22at. 31b.

The governors of the Wellington College and Girls' High School havo resolved that in future drawing shall be included ia the ordinary course nt both establishments, except perhaps in the higher classes.

The first parcels post sent from Great Britain to tho colonies was brought to Victoria by the mail steamer Iberia, which arrived on August 21st. The number of parcels sent was 120, their total weight being 2^cwt.

Dr. Moorhonse, in acknowledging the receipt of a draft for £1115, the amount of the testimonial subscribed by his friends in Melbourne, says — !( It is a mnteri.il help to me in meeting the enormous expenses of toy removal and resettlement."

The Muyor o£ Sydney has received communications from the municipal authorities of Melbourne, Adelaide, Ballnrat City, Hobart, and Sandhurst, accepting his invitations to tbe Jubilee Australian Municipal meeting to be held in Sydney in October.

The rainfall in April, May, June, and August in Ghriatchuich amouuted to 31-320, the rainfall for August being 11. The rainfall for theie four months is nearly us much as the heaviest annual rainfall recorded in Christchurch, namely 1878, 32-310 inches.'