Progress?

Figures to show that the men of Australia are producing substantially less than a few years ago were furnished at the inquiry in the Arbitration Court into the question of hours in the engineering trade.

In them ’appy, far-off days
Men was cheerful, so they says—
Singin’, workin’,
Never shirkin’;
Doin’ of their little jobs:
But in these ’ere days of pleasure
Blokes goes in fer too much leisure;
Gamblin’, dancin’,
An’ financin’.
Bettin’ quids an’ bettin’ bobs.

Fer Bill ain’t layin’ the bricks ’e
did,
An’ Sam ain’t splittin’ the sticks ’e
did,
An’ Jim an’ Joe
They preach “Go slow.”
An’ torks an’ plans an’ schemes;
An’ Len ain’t cartin’ the loads ’e
did,
An’ Ben ain’t buildin’ the roads ’e
did,
An’ George an’ Jack
They’re growin’ slack
While Simon sits an’ dreams.

Is things ’eadin’ fer the best?
Every bloke’s in need of rest;
But this slowin’
Isn’t goin’
To be any good to US.
I ain’t got no time fer slavin’;
I ain’t any shakes on savin’;
But this lazin’
Is amazin’—
That’s why I kick up a fuss.

But Hal ain’t cuttin’ the hay ’e did,
Tho’ ’e draws double the pay ’e did;
An’ Alf an’ Art
They plays a part.
That ain’t too clean an’ straight;
An’ Tom ain’t writin’ the tomes ’e
did,
An’ Guy ain’t weavin’ the poems ’e
did;
An’ I tells you all,
We’re goin’ to fall
If we leaves reform too late.