THE UNEMPLOYED.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3151, 3 September 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE UNEMPLOYED.

Tim following comments from an article in a Sydney paper gives some good reasons for the position of the worker in the neighbouring colonies at the pre.-ent time, a state of affairs which, fortunately, our own colony has emerged from, and brought about by the name conditions, namely, the extravagant expenditure of borrowed millions : —

One cannot expect political economy of a very far-seeing nature from starving men ; therefore it is not sutprising that the unemployed cry out for more public works. 15ut anyone who is able to pre seive a reasonably level head can see that it is to too much public works they owe their present distress. The standard of wages has been raised until capitalists cannot see any inducement to undertake an:! set in motion tils rough laborious works on which the solid progress of the country depends. So it comes to pass that, there is a deadlock. Sellers of labour ask more than buyers are willing to give, and the latter are moreover confronted with possible dangers in the shape of combinations and strikes, which render them less willing than they would otherwise he to purchase a commodity which might, prove to be very troublesome and dangerous. At u certain wage there is no doubt the labour market could absorb every willing and capjble worker. At present rates it is very evident that it cannot. The outcome must either be a reduction of wages or an attempt to make water run uphill by undertaking experiments iu tho way of socialistic administration. Beneficent inertia, which still remains the strongest force in human affairs, tends to the former solution. The latter, even it were tried, would be found futile.