AN ABSURDITY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1910, 19 November 1913, Page 9

AN ABSURDITY.

Sir, —An important feature in connection with the present industrial upheaval is tho infinitesimal amount of added labour contributed to values by the watersidors, compared with that contributed by other workers. To illustrate: A ton of Hour in a bakehouse is worth more than when it leaves the vessel, and when it leaves the vessel it is worth moro than when it left the mill, artel so on right down to the wheat in the stack. The product has to bear' the cost of all tiro various manipulations and handlings. Probably tho value of a ton of bnttcr, worth, say, £120 in London, has been added to to tho extent or one shilling by the watcrsiders. It will thus be seen that tho watersidors' contribution is just one two thousand four hundredth part, aftd .yet ho claims 'that he is justified in inflicting punishment and ruin upon the contributors of tho 2399 parts unless •ho is allowed to t>leaso hiniisolf whether he goes to work or Mat.' Another aspect of the business is that there, aro thousands of millions of pounds sterling involved and millions of persons employed in tho manufacture aiid transportation of tho goods which those men simply .pass along tho wharves, and yet because tho Union Steam Ship Company refuses to adopt a system of payment of employees which no other company or corporation is asked to adopt the. community is to ho terrorised, our industries paralysed, small traders ruined, and tho whole world threatened by a few Red Feds. The absurdity of itt-*-I am, etc., • DON'T LEX >m.