IMPORTANT ISSUES.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 2, 1 December 1905, Page 25

IMPORTANT ISSUES.

The president ot the Wellington Provincial Industrial Association, on important issues .—. — " The well-being of our industrial enterprises will at all times depend upon the capabilities of our producers to take advantage of and develop the natural advantages with which this colony is so richly favoured." " I am quite sure neither the workers or the community will suffer any serious hardship by the decease of many unions that commonsense should have prevented the formation of. The conditions applying to a man not able to earn the wages as set forth by the Arbitration Court are of a character that will practically prevent such men getting employment. How many are there of these poor unfortunates suffering for the necessities of life consequent upon the arbitrary laws m vogue, and how many more are there receiving help from the State and other sources that would not be needed if, while the workers protected their rights and improved their conditions of living, they extended to their unfortunate brothers that right of honest labour which all free men under our glorious constitution are entitled to." " The colony has passed through a long period of prosperity, and we believe that, notwithstanding the slight falling off in the colony's chief products during last year, we have not arrived at the end of the general prosperity that is all-important for the happiness of the community ; but it behoves us, whether m the ranks of the employer or employed, to thmk and act in a manner that shall be conducive to the well-being, not only of the present community, but of the coming generations, whose trustees we are m administering this splendid asset, the colony of New Zealand, whose climate and natural advantages are second to no other country." "It was all-important that the high standard which obtained in the industrial life of this colony as compared with conditions m the older world should not only be maintained but improved upon. To give effect to this desire the natural resources of New Zealand should be developed so as to better meet the competition of people outside. The bill introduced by the Government this session, aiming at the prevention of trade monopolies, was a matter which should engage the serious attention of all manufacturers. While it was the duty of the State to prevent any system of trade that would bring about the evils manifested in connection with some trade monopolies m other countries — the only outcome of which was the accumulation of enormous wealth m the hands of a few individuals on the one hand, and the lowering of the standard of comfort of workers, together with increased cost to the purchaser consequent on the throttling of the smaller manufacturer. On the other hand it was felt that unless great care was exercised in dealing with this matter, harassing conditions might be imposed that would result in diminished activity m those concerns already established, and the prevention of new enterprises which, if established, would be of great benefit to this colony."