, 1872-12-04

OF the Government seem to tend towards
that system which has been adopted in the
United States, when the reorganization of
labour took place, viz, 'free terms of
wages and extensive school education,
upon the basis of fixed contracts''. To
say, as the Commission has said, Chat the
Labour Regulations are, so to speak, both
the Law of the Land aud the established
Custom or Usage of the Land at one and
the same time ;-that those Regulations
not only contain enactments on things and
matters the ad justment of which is natu-
rally and universally admitted to be with
in the province of the Legislature, but at
the same time lay down rules for the or
ganization of relations which are other
wise left to be determined by the employ
ers themselves, by agreements, which they
make binding between themselves, and to
which the labourers consent by their con-
%tracts'', and that ''this peculiar nature of
the relations IN question may, then, very
naturally explain the cause Of the LegisIa-
ture and the Administration having been
reiuctaut to take the initiative fol- intro
ducing changes, rs long as no pressing de-
mandS for such were advanced by the par
ties nearest interested lherein'', is to arr
que partially, unfairly, arbitrarily, and
even enormously. Partially, because the
argument entertainS only that part of the
question which favours the direct rights,
views, and interests Of the employers,
while it should embrace the rights, and
interests of the Iabourers also; and to
make such agreements among themselves
as are binding on them, and then force la
bourers to consent to these by contract, is
in itself unfair, particularly as they are not
allowed the right to have a say as to
whether the agreements are acceptable to
them or not ON whom SO much depends
in the matter. The Argument is arbitra-
ry ; because it upholds the principle of
debating to the weaker party-the labour-
ers-that they shall and must accept the
stipulations Of the Regulations, as those
which their employers think best suited to
their wants and circumstances, and totally
withhoIds from them the right and chance
of getting as much rs they can for their
labour. And, although the local Admin
i~stration did show some reluctance in tax
ing the initiative, in introducing such
changes as would have visibly affected the
material life Of the labourers in times past,
(within the period of the existence of the
present Regulations, yet it cannot now
be maintained that such is the case any
longer; for the local Administration has
now, in conformity with the wishes and
intentions of the Home Government, un-
dertaken the task, and now a conservative
Commission says THE condition and po-
sition of the LabOurers cannot be looked
upon as establishing undeniabIe claim for
a new Law (or Usage), or at al! events
the resentment of the old one."-Is this
not erroneous argument ? Surely it can
not BE- denied that complaints have been
made about the working of the Labour
system on all sides, aud if ''the condition
of the Labourers cannot be looked upon
as establishing a claim Tor a new Law,
what have complaints been made about?
what has induced the Government to so
earnestly desire such changes to be effect
ed as would 5o..er the material life of the
labourers?
The same uniform rate of wages has
been retained ia the new Draft, and the
reason for doing SO is based upon the fol-
lowing argument in the Commissions Re-
port That ga Iabourer possessing the ne
cessary physical qualifications for employ
ment as q 1st class ield-labourer can per-
r.. ror4;o. oC ,-orJ, x-or4L $780,.