CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 123, 27 May 1942, Page 6

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

CLAIMS OF LABOUR

(To The Editor)

The average Labour man (and his leaders) when asked for hris viewtf on the capitalistic system usually tells us that Labour is "exploited" and does not get all it produces. May I ask why should it get all it produces? Owing to the hopeless lack of training and education on things economic the workers are suffering from a delusion. The position of labour is that it sells its capacity and skill to the employer at a given price (agreed upon at a given rate). On these terms, what labour pro duces is no concern of itself. Its foolish claim that it is entitled to the production ignores the fact that it takes no risk. It finds no financial capital. It lacks organising skill. The worker in production has largely to depend on the work and skill of others to be able to use hi? own particular share in his prod act. What the workers generally do not know, although their leaders, in the 1935 election, professed that they did and would alter things, is that their wages do not cover the cost of production, and as the cost of producer goods is naturally put into the cost of consumer goods, but the cost or money debt for the producer goods returns to the bank before the con< sumer goods are on the shelves, thev therefore find that the ivice level above their purchasing power. The solution lies in reducing the price at a retail shop and subsidising the seller. Even if people have deposits lying idle, what does it matter—they will need-the money after the war. H. S. WTNTHROP.