PAUPERISING LABOUR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1970, 29 April 1919, Page 4

PAUPERISING LABOUR.

(ConchuJcd from page 1.) have too high an opinion, founded on life-long elo.se relationship with • our British worker, to believe for one moment that he will prove such a “sucker" as to he deceived hy any such idea as something for nothing. There is no reason why the workman of to-day should not enjoy higher wages earned in fewer\ hours and possessing greater purchasing power in food, clothing, recreation, and housing than anyone dreams of as possible under Government grants and doles. Science has made such advance in placing at oar disposal cheap electric power, wonderful mechanical utilities, rapid and cheap transport facilities for conveyance of raw materials from the four quarters of the globe to the British Isles, that human power of production can he increased and the product cheapened indefinitely, whilst wages can be enormously increased simultaneously with reduction of the hours of labour. LXTE RDE HEX DEX CE* 0 F CA PI - TAL AND LABOUR. Bat this betterment can only be achieved by a combination of Capital and employer and Labour. Capital and Labour are each absolutely dependent on the enterprise, intelligence, knowledge, energy, ability, and close application of the successful employer. I am certain it is only a question of each not understanding and not realising Ihe point of view of (lie other. Capital and (he employer have learnt their lesson in (he sharp, hard school of experience. Government has never proposed to stand between Capital or employer and failure and bankruptcy. They both Idfow lhal lo avoid cither they must depend solely on cTliciency and improved service for I lie consumer, their customer. They have seized upon every mechanical utility that promised lo increase out pul and reduce costs. They have explored and developed the deserted and desert places of the earth to provide themselves will) cheap raw materials, and made' these desert places lo blossom and bring fort It abundantly for the service of man. And as Capital and the employer succeeded hy adopting right methods, there is no earthly possible reason why Labour should not equally succeed on these sound, well tried and planned lines, which have stood the test ol time and achieved the .progress of the world throughout the centuries. Bui whilst Capital and the employer have been taught self-reli-ance as the basis of success, simultaneously Labour has been taught Unit dependence on Government grants and aids, doles, and charily, is something that, like Ihe ancient fallacies of perpetual motion or the philosopher's stone, or transmutation of hc.sc metals into gold, will achieve 1 Loir betterment and raise them lo ease and comfort. AN ell. just as it is true that the best brains of the- world four or five centuries ago believed in the absurdities of perpetual motion, the philosopher s stone, transmutation of metals, alchemy, astrology, and witchcraft, and have long since gt'own out of o belief in their utility or efficacy, so it is true Unit Labour will grow out of the fallacy of Government grants of something for nothing. LABOUR'S ONLY WAY TO SUCCESS. Labour craves for shorter hours and less arduous toil. Labour is right, but will never achieve its object by tight* or might —only by skill and cTliciency, only by use of mechanical utilities, only by producing more goods in less hours. Labour craves for higher wages. Labour in lhal has an elevating and inspiring ambition, and Labour is right, but will never achieve its object by light or might, hut only hy improved service for the consumer and reduced cost of product enabling higher wages to be paid. Labour wants cheaper costs of living, cheaper houses, clothing, bools, shoes, food,- and all the thousand and one items that form the necessities, comforts, luxuries, and elegancies of life. Labour is right, but will never achieve its object by light or might or hy ca-canny methods of restriction of output. Labour want- lo take its proper place in the management of the undertakings and businesses in which it is employed. Labour is right, but will never achieve that object hy light or might, or hy suspicion and distrust of Capital and the employer, or by any other means than preparation for henelit of themselves and others, and study of (he duties of directors and Ihe principles that have made for success and prosperity in the past. The history of the British Empire shows that individualism founded on liberty and law and-order has been the solid rock and foundation on which I lie Empire has been built up, and not on pauperising Government doles, grants, and sops. The latter is only a sowing of the wind, and the result can only be to reap* the harvest of the whirlwind.