“ MILLS OF MILWAUKEE.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3330, 23 September 1911, Page 2

“ MILLS OF MILWAUKEE.”

MONOPOLISED INDUSTRIES.

PUBLIC OWNERSHIP URGED

“Public Ownership of Monopolised Industries” was the subject of Professor Mills’ address at Chilton’s Hall last evening. Mr. John Townley presided, and there was a large attendance. Professor Mills said that there was a general outcry against monopolies, as though the men in them wore responsible for their existence. This was not so. Monopolies did not exist because of the bad qualities that were in them. They were quite modern, while bad qualities were quite ancient. He .had made a careful .study of the subject, and there were some industries not in the monopoly, anjl never likely to be, but they were not carried on by better men than those who were in monopolies. Ho pointed out how the great monopolies were organised, and said that the more millions put into an industry, the more employed under a centralised management, and the larger the scale of organisation the cheaper the production. The largest monopoly won the market, because it was a larger and more effective enterprise. He instanced the modern American shoe factory as an example, and said they had no use for shoemakers, and did not use them. There were 105 distinct acts in making shoes, and on each one was based a great occupation. There were eleven occupations in putting on the heel of a shoe, and a man who knew nothing about it could learn one of these occupations in fifteen minutes. His wife or child could learn it. The American Beef Trust shoe factory .had control of this industry as a side line to the beef industry. They used the beef on the inside of the hide and the hide on the outside of the beef. The great race was for the markets, and it was impossible for one to win unless the others lose. When one got the markets they got a monopoly. . Continuing, the speaker said that if all competitors were angels some would fly faster than the rest. He did not contend they were all angels, but in his country they were near angels in the market place, for the monopolists were deacons and deacons were near angels. He pointed out how Rockefeller andi Pierpont Morgan were deacons in the church. They both controlled great businesses, and 1 they were both trusted by their fellows; tlmt was why they held the positions they did. If competition was entered into and destroyed the old monopoly, then the new competitor became the monopoly. The new enterprise would be destroyed or it would destroy the monopoly. There were two kinds of monopolies, private and pulbic. By private monopoly he meant belonging to a small section of the people. An industry so owned could skin the other section of the community. In a public monopoly all were in, and there was no one left out- to skin. A public monopoly was no injustice, to anyone. The only man complaining about a trust was tee man who was left out. They wanted to put everyone in, and then they would stop complaints. The private monopoly put the industrial developments in tee hands of the few, and instead of being a public sendee they became instruments to harass and torture the people. If a private monopoly was followed by a private monopoly they were no better off, but if followed by a public monopoly they could not “roast” anyone or, do anyone an injustice. He" pointed out how the established monopoly used public power to stop new companies and then went on imposing on the public again. If they were going to start business against a trust they would have to buy tee raw material and machinery from a trust, ship their goods by trust steamers, borrow money from a trust, and sell in a trust market, and yet they were going to fight the trust. They were not individually strong enough, resistless enough, or rich enough to fight it. But ho knew a body that could do it, and that was the whole body of the people acting .together through the power of their Government. That was the only one. The majority of tee people voting at the ballot box had the right under the law to use the power of the people in doing the things necessary to be done in order to escape being "done.” The public were tee only ones who could compete successfully against a monopoly, but they should not cry out against monopoly, hut rather give attention to the stupidity of the people. In conclusion he. appealed to New Zealanders to exercise their powers and prevent monopolies being established. A heartv vote of thanks to the speaker concluded the meeting.

"EDUCATION.”

INTERESTING ADDRESS' TO LADIES. There was a good attendance of ladies at Chilton’s Hall yesterday afternoon to hear Professor Mills speak on the subject of "Education.” Mrs Reeve occupied the chair, and introduced the speaker as coining from one of the great countries of the world (America), which to-day is taking a 2>rominent part in all matters relating to true education. She was glad that in these days we were all recognising the fact that this meant something more than the accumulation of facts. Same of the best lectures she had heard in London on this question had been from Americans. Professor Mills spoke for more than an hour to a most attentive and appreciative audience, dwelling on the necessity for women understanding and informing themselves on this and all social subjects which so directly touched themselves and their children. He .dwelt upon the need for all-round development of the child, both physical and mental,, and on. the great benefit of open-air and healthy surroundings—instancing schools that lie had known where these things were carried out and others’ in which l the conditions were bad, with corresponding results.: He. also, spoke of the opportunity' that women possessed! in New Zealand of taking an active part in all great social matters,. and' urged them to organise as men were doing, and to do their duty as citizens. At the close of the address some questions were asked and satisfactorily replied to, and the following resolution was proposed l by Mrs -Walker and unanimously carried: "That this meeting of women, recognising the importance of women taking their share iff tee government of all institutions where women and girls are concerned, would respectfully call the attention of tee, Governors of the Gisborne High School for Boys and Girls, to tee fact that- there is no woman at present sitting on the governing Board. They, would suggest teat it would!-lie to the advantage of the girls and! women teachers of the school that one or more women should be invited' to co-operate with, the Governors, and they would earnestly bog the governing body at tee next two vacancies of the. Board to give this matter their>serious consideration.” At the suggestion, of ,thc\ Professor, as a practical outcome of this meeting,

an organisation was formed for purposes of social service, anany of the women present giving in their names. A vote of thanks to the Professor and also to the chairwoman brought the meeting to a close'.