Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-05-14


The case of New South Wales il nos
sibiy the most pronounced type OF the
evolution which has been in operation
10 all the Australian dominions.
Industrial development in New South
wales has a sharp line OF division In
rs history. and the present Industrial
system Is very different from that OF
the past. uneconomic as were the be-
ginnings Of Industry In the colony un-
aer the handicap OF the convict-trans-
portatfon system, some OF their effects
remain today, and they need to be re-
called for the lessons In their history.
operated as ii was as a mere penal
settlement. with the vague intention
tnat some day II might be a colony OF
another kind. there was little room for
the unhampered operation ofindustrial
FORCES In their natural channels. and III
INDUSTRY now is on another plane the
creoit Is even greater because OF the
wretched inception OF IL. 1t was long
before the authorities would recognize
tnat the iahorer had rights to anything
beyond a bare living. This might be
understood as long as the great ma
lority OF the laborers were emancipat-
ca conviets. but the same ideas DOM
mated the policy of the authorities long
AFTER the free population began to null
tipiy. The spirit OF the government
was that of parental interference in ev-
cry concern Of social life. The pater-
naIism OF today Is altogether a dif-
ferent thing. The governor fixed the
price and regulated the quality of pro-
visions to be sold In the colony. He
made grants OF land and In Sydney re-
CURED those who had grants TO erect
nhe buildings on them. He served out
lands, cattle and provisions to his sub
lects Ike general merchant. He
regulated tolls. ferries and munIcipal
anairs. He gathered together the or
phans OF the colony and supported
them out OF the custom-hoase recefpts
TO the laborer he assigned a fixed
daiiy wage, and he regulated the price
OF the meat and the bread which the
lanorer must buy. The free colonist
was looked upon as an intruder, and he
was TO be regulated as carefully as pos
siole. Al first the government was the
only employer Of labor. As years went
on an increasing number OF men whose
sentences had expired came into the
labor market. and these, with the SOL
diers who decided 10 stay in the colony.
retired officers. civilians In the employ
Of the government and the free ImmI
grants who had come to the settle
ment, formed the Industrial population.
As this element grew II became ueces-
sary to make laws regulating the re-
iations between employers and the free
employed
The laws affecting labor were all
conceived In the spirit OF the primal
curse, which designated work a nun
ishment. the life OF man a warfare and
MS time here below probation to be
spent In WEAKNESS and sorrow. The
general orders issued during the first
thirty years We're sufficiently harsh and
caiious even when framed with special
reference 70 the bond population. but
they We're scarcely more eonsiderate
when they sought to regulate free Ia
Dor. A days work for stacking and
carrying grain was fixed at from S
O'Clock in the morning until 7 O'Clock
al night, less three hours for food and
rest The wages paid for various
classes OF labor were arbitrarily dc.
termined. Should a iaborer take or
demand more than the regular rates or |
refuse to work for such wages he waa
to be set in the stock for two days and
one night for the first offense and for
second to undergo penalty OF three
months hard labor. No person was al |
lowed to take work unless he could. IL |
freeman, produce his certificate. or.
II a bondman, his ticket OF leave. For /
the infringement OF this regulation tho /
penalty for the employer was a ane
ana lot paying more than the regulated
rates. ne was liable to be Imprisoned i
FOR ten days, in addition to the hne /
Tne harboring Of runaway apprentice
involved six months hard labor h ! |
freeman, and 100 lashes with other
punishment, to prisoner. Az the
Trainer OF the laws, the governor had
Always before him the fact that the EN-
ployer was often little better than the
aborer, both as rule belonging 10 the
smancipist class, and both deserving Of
similar punishment for breaches OF The
abor regulations"
The above is from an official publ
alton which deals with those tinea
Free labor got but three shillings n
lay for field labor. and out OF thai
lad to supply their own food and
clothing. This form OF regulation bv
aw was strictly in accordance with tho
IDEAS Of the times. the object being II
insure to settlers a supply Of ebean
abor, and incidentally to protect inc
aborer against fraud Its principal ef.
ect, however, was to prevent the laboy-
r from recovering in the courta
ireater price for his labor than was
tipulated in the schedule, whatever bIs
ontract with his employer might be.
while the moment II became the n.
crest OF the employer to give better
erIns ne would do so. While xxaoas