'THE ARBITRATION COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 19660, 13 September 1927, Page 8

'THE ARBITRATION COURT.

■o THE EDITOR. Sir, “ T.M.” w:is disappointed at not getting more replies to ins letters, the only critic being Mr It. Harrison, and according to “T.M.” Mr Hamsun’s contribution is a. mere nothing. T.M.” agrees with Mr Harrison that the efficient worker deserves what ho earns; but docs he get it? The worker referred to by “T.M., 1, I take it, is engaged in primary and secondary industries. How does “T.M.” class a worker who does not produce or manufacture, such as salesmen, law clerks, pressmen, liuotypists, warehousemen, etc. ? This class of worker is better paid than the worker in the former class. “ T.M.’s ” idea of Socialism is that the employer and his employees work in harmony for the greatest good of the greatest number, combining up-to-date'methods, etc., which-moans the workers are to work harder and produce more. Now, the Arbitration Court docs not prevent the employers from giving those workers a share of the profits. It does not need to, lor they would nut get it. r J bo court, as “ T.M.” states, bases the minimum wage on tho cost of living, and the minimum wage declared by tnc court is a bare existence. If the court made the minimum wage below the- cost ol living it would bo simply ordering a certain section of the community to starve. The employer Ims the right to employ a stall at the minimum wage, and if that staff work in harmony and produce large profits how docs ( “ 1.M.” propose to share that profit? Can “T.M.,” by the wav, tell us what is profit? Hoes “T.M.” know that most of the largo firms in Dunedin started in a small way and have grown to what they are to-day, and if the workers engaged in these firms were not doing their bit, how did these linns prosper? Some of the employees in these linns have given a life service, yet I do not know of an employee who is receiving more wages than when ho started, although his employer makes double the profit, unless he is worth a like amount to an opposition firm. Perhaps “T.M.” can name some.—l am, etc.. A - I! - ' September 13.