THE PROBLEM OF CAPITALISM.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 31 March 1914, Page 3

THE PROBLEM OF CAPITALISM.

(To the Editor). Sir, —Your correspondent "Anti lied Flag" has his letter headed "The Problem of Socialism." Had he known sufficient, of Socialism perhaps he ! would have realised that the problem is "capitalism," and the only panacea is Socialism. He quibbles about strikes and foreigners, and fhe shrewdness of New Zealanders, but all the time he fails most pitiably to see below the surface. He, as a typical Tory, believes in the eternal superiority of one class in the community to any other ; and in common with most individualists, he recognises that this superiority consists in—money. The cause which he champions is responsible for allowing the founder of New Zealand's commercial prosperity— the inventor of freezing machinery ■—to die in abject poverty in a Paris slum; while on the other hand it permits an indolent land- 1 owner, who merely lives on the work of others, to amass a fortune. But what Socialists would like an-

swered is this : "Dare any individualist contend that every person in a community has not an equal right to live: not merely to live, but to develop his individuality to the utmost he is capable of'doing ?' And yet it is patent to anyone who studies the question at all that, binder tlic present system, the vast majority of men possess no right whatever to live—unless they pay a premium to • the capitalist. With Ins gracious permission they may exist, and at his caprice they can starve: for man must _ work to live, and if .work is withheld from him, he .starves., Your correspondent proudly quotes the worn out adage "a fair day's work for a fnir'dny's wage"; but the truth is that he gives-—or is compelled to give—a fair day's work, but lie doesn't get a fair day's wage in return. Tt is common knowledge that the average worker (and here I include "all" workers, both brain . and manual) only receives onethird of the total wealth he produces, the oilier two thirds go in rent and profit Socialism is cooperation. Individualism is competition. ft is distinctly amusing to see the bombastic enthusiasts of Capitalism (who are generally poor workers themselves) trumpeting and shouting in their ignorance the merits of capitalism and competition: while all the time the great captains of industry arc quietly embracing the principles of Socialism and cooperation in forming their huge monopolies, trusts and combines. : Socialists arc not impossibilists. "Evolution and progress favour us, and the first dutv of Socialists is : to nationalise all monopolies for i the benefit of the whole commun- j ity. Ts this anarchy or common ! sense? X leave your readers to judge. Yours, etc., R.S.Y.