The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-08

consider The most advanced labor couh'
INV of tbe world. It comes from the
other side of the globe, away down PC
low the equator, from the colony OF new
Zealand 1t is written by the Honorable
Edward Iregear who for the past iitteen
,,o,ps ms been secretary of labor for that
colony and who has always peeh one %
INA urine movers in New zcaland's en-
noriments on the labor problem The in
+, +ervie,v Is in response to questions winch
h 7 snnt Mr. Tregear several months ago,
,aopd II rivcs the situation as regards
t,.hor ond capital in that country in
1904.
New Zealand's Secretary for
Labor.
1t IS now four years since met secte.
+orv Trerear in his office at the labor de-
nortment in wellington, New Zealand.
He is n bright-eyed, scholarly looking
man of perhaps forty-five years OF age.
He is thoroughly posted on the labor
situation and especially on all things con-
nectcd with labor in Australia and New
Zealand During our chat he told me
what the government was then doing to
reconcile the troubles Of labor and capt.
!. tai; how it had established the weekly
half-hoday, had practically fixed the
forty-ejght hour week, and how 1t was
to some extent regulating trusts and the
accumulation of large fortunes. he SAID
that the workingmen of the country mad
become the preponderating influence In
political life, and their success had been
won not through violence, but by reason
Ing out the matter on the stump and
thereby getting the balance of power in
parllament Mr.. Tregear then thought
that New Zealands efforts toward equal
izinr the rights of man would be initiated
by other countries. He said the colony
was steadily advancing, and that he
hoped great things for the future.
That was in the year 1900. Hero Is what
he says of the situation to-day. The
questions interspersed through the inter-
view arc mine:
Industrial New Zealand in 1904.
Department Of Labor.
''Wclington. N. H., 18th of March, 1904.
..My Dear Mr.. Carpenter.
.It Is not easy to condense in a single
article answers to the large social and
economic questions You send me, but
Will do my best. You ask whether or
Eanized labor has been for the good o
this colony? believe that tho organiza
ton OF labor in New Zealand has beer
productive of much good both to employ
er and employed. 1t has allowed Indus
trial affairs to be looked at from Il calm
collective standpoint The employers
have met the organizations Of their men
by forming similar unions and assocIa-
tions among themselves, so that in regard
to the conditions of wages. hours, cts,
in n trade the personality Of the indivi-
dual counts little and his energies have
to be turned to his own more perfect
1pI inv 80
sand materials rather than to the grosser
sorts of trade competition.
"The sweater has been eliminated, and
the honest employer, who wishes to pay
fair wages, Is encouraged by the absence
of the commercial pirate. Moreover, en-
ployers are not at the mercy of their men
LIN critical times.
"On the part of the workers themselves
organization has helped enormously to
shelter their condition. The trade unions
$have been mostly superseded by indus.
trial unions, registered under the arbi-
tration act, and such unions can do moth
sing directly tai raise the wages of their
members. They. IaVe. however, great
political and social influence.
The People Run New Zealand.
81 have understood that the trade
;unlons run the country?"
4ic uiIOllS 40 NOT run the country
,as their enemies assert. There are only
f2S.00o unionists workers in New Zealand
sout of population of $4,000 persons
| having adult suffrage of both sexes, so
their votes could not run the country
STheir Influence, however, from their soli-
I darity and intelligence is very great and
no politician can disregard it. therefore
they can bring pressure on legislation.
, Economically the unions advantage
! labor indirectly, but very weightily,
! through the Industrial conciiation boards
and arbitration court Unions induce a
/ feeling of comradeshIp: they have helped
ITO advance wages, shorten hours, gain
paid holidays and half-holidays, and linn
! :ied the number of boy workers.
THE third party. the public, generally
Ennconsidered in such matters no longer
has TO bear the danger, annoyance and
loss through disturbance Of trade and
of society caused by employer and en-
.ploye fighting out their quarrels and pre-
Tending 10 decide questions of right and
wrong by methods of brute force--for
the cheque book can be as brutal a wea-
pom as the club"
Wages Steady and Advancing.
How about wages?"
wages In the colony rise and fall but
,llttle they have been steadily advanc
ing OF late years, They differ according
To climatic conditions In different parts
OF the colony, but they average fairly a!
follows: Ordinary laborers, So day
farm lahorers, IS TO $3.50 n week ant
found; carpenters, $3.50 day; plumbers
$3.50; brlcklaycrs SO to 81; painters, &. %
boptmakers, 5000 to SIS per week (bu
most on piece work.; order tailors. $250
day; plasterers, 50; station hands Cow
boys) IS TO Sc n week and found; Shop
herds, 1875 to 1926 year and found"
Women as a Labor Factor.
Give me some idea of your womer
Enionisis."
"our women take but little share Fl
organized labor With the exception o.
the Dunedin taloresses. who number
about 500. there are no influential or ac
tive women's unions, This arises partl,
because the inspectors of factories anc
shops look with unremltting vigilance
after the wages, overtime pay, holidays
etc, OF the women and girls, so tha
sthere is no pressure necessi,ating union
E1sm. Moreover, probably the want o
lcohesion In the sex when engaged in tn,
f. NJ