Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] THUESDAY, JULY 2, 1903 THE DOOM OF THE WEAKEST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7501, 2 July 1903, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] THUESDAY, JULY 2, 1903 THE DOOM OF THE WEAKEST.

The doom of the weakest is to go to the wall —and of the strongest to come to the front. This is a natural procsss, which cannot be averted ; at the same time, in this Colony, it has been tho practice to give even the weakest a chance, and not to send them to the wall by a special kick. Wo fear that the programme of the Government in the present session is again in tho direction of sending the weakest to the wall.

A city correspondent writes to us that " the perpetual motion side of the labour question is certainly making itself felt in New Zealand just now, and there is a feeling of uneasiness in mercantile circles." It is a pity that this should be so; but so it is. It is not a case of " Butchered to make a Boman holiday "; but one of trade being butchered to make a labour holiday. The want of finality in labour arrangements is appalling. Adjustments are.persistent and continuous; and,as we pointed out the other day, business men are actually driven to have their goods made in America for sale in New Zealand. We are putting qur manufacturing " out" now, in the same way as we put out our washing. We no longer do it at home.

The weak manufacturer must give up manufacturing and import goods instead for tbo supply of his customers. The weak employe simply has to retire from the industrial field and possibly become a co-operative labourer. Neither master nor man has that fair chance of holding on which he possessed a few years ago ; for progressive legislation takes both one and the other off his feet and leaves him stranded. The progressive legislation, too, is of such a mixed character that even a Philadelphia lawyer could not interprets. The Government throw a boomerang; but we have to wait aud see whom ie hits, for it never seems to strike the person it is. ain?ed . at. His Excellency, in his late speech, indicated one when he said: "My Ministers deem it in the best interests of the Colony that in respect to the housing, food and clothing of the people, legislation should be passed insuring fair competition." .We get one set of measures to prevent competition ; and another set of measuros to premoteit. Our statesmanship resembles that of the Irishman, who, in order to get his bacon-both fat and lean ; fed his pig.to repletion-one day and starved it the next. The feelings of the.poor pig are not account. It is only a very ieaiMedipig irideed who can adjust himself td'4 J odnditioh under whi.eh' he hat! a. cuLU]je"ljt<rivc-i;«<//i----non-coiaf etiffsfJolicyi Therein a danger of ovona, Bt\irly animal like the New Zealand pig going""""off colour" under such treatment. If the Government policy is to bo competition, we know Where we are; but if it is to be competition mixed up with combination, we shall get a very nasty mixture, which will kill off many weaklings. -

In Wanggnui it is proposed to establish a motor bus' service for the use of the town and suburbs. It is only a question of time for the bus' to' invade Masterton, and to connect outlying districts with the eentte by a cheap, rapid and regular service. Indeed, it would bo almost worth while now for the livery stable-keepors of Masterton. to combine and float a Motor Bus' Company. The thing has to come ; and it would not be well for them to leave strangers to carry out such an enterprise. We happen to have a resident in the town, Mr I/bnald p, onald, who, in a recent trip through the Spates, made a special study of road motors. Indeed, he is quite a qyolopedia pf information upon this subject; and it is a surprise to us? to find from him how cheaply, safely and economically towns in the States are now served by the more up-todato motors. In the interest of Maeterton, we should like to see motor cars running Jo Gladstone, Feathorston, Tenui and j AUredton. They will some day—and J why not now ? • ■■■ . |