PAUPERISING LABOUR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1970, 29 April 1919, Page 1

PAUPERISING LABOUR.

(By Lord Leverhulme.) There is no man more qualified to write on the relations of Capital and Labour than Lord Leverlmlnie, belter known the world over as Sir William Lever, Bart., head of the great Port Sunlight Works and oilier big kindred industries. He has always studied (he comforts of his workpeople, paid good wages, provided good working conditions, and has gone the length of making his people everywhere profit-sharers. Ho seems to have settled the whole problems, for no one recalls strikes or troubles where he controls. Tin’s article was contributed to the London Sunday Times, and is well worthy the attention of all New Zealanders. Do we as a nation really understand and sympathise with what, for want of a more precise and accurate definition, we call “Labour”? We are all workers in some branch or other, and the hardest .workers of all, and the least happy of all, i are the idle pleasure-seekers of any and all ranks and ('lasses. What we refer to when we use the term "Labour” are (hose workers whorin' sometimes styled "hands," as if possessing no mind, soul, or aspirations, and if is in consequence of this wrong viewpoint and mental altitude towards “Labour” that we suffer to-day. We have behaved towards “Labour” on the ’basis of “Punch's” advice to wives on (he management of difficult husbands, “Peed the beast.” “Labour” is not a machine to be kept well oiled with “something for nothing,” doles, grants, and sops in order to maintain’smooth running free from friction, but is as delicate and complex a human being as any in the world. “Labour” responds wholeheartedly to a “square deal” and brotherhood, equity, and sympathy, but despises and bullies the giver of doles and sops. All our efforts and legislation for [he pas) quarter century have been ■■rendered abortive by our failure to realise this and by attempts to raise “Labour” by one succession of doles and

sops. We have not yet learned our lesson, but now being face to face with a house famine, with high cost of house building, mainly the result — not of the Great War —hut of restriction of output and ca'canny policy of “Labour," it is seriously proposed that houses shall be built and let at loss limn (heir economic rentals so as to bring the rentals to within (he pre-eoneeived ideas of “Labour" as to what their rentals should he.

Here, again, let me state clearly, better build houses on any terms than leave the people unhoused and homeless, but belter still to teach the truth (hat the only real permanent remedy for house shortage is to build more houses, and that the only way to achieve lower rentals is to build more cheaply, free from restriction or individual efficiency or effort,

THE SLAVE HABIT. I remember during a visit to the Southern Slates of America some 25 years ago meeting there an old, white-haired negro, who was said to he over 85 years of age. fie had been sold many times, and known good and bad owners. He was well over 50 years of age when he became a free man. Now, I thought,

TO WHOM JT MAY CONCERN! Sufferers from Deafness and Head Noises should know of the following advertisement, which is now appearing in numerous newspapers in all parts of the world: — HOW TO CURE DEAFNESS.

A simple preparation has recently been discovered by an eminent physician, which has been found wonderfully effective in curing deafness and head-noises. Severe and obstinate cases which had resisted ail the ordinary remedies and expensive treatments, have been permanently cured in a few days by this simple preparation called “AURALON.”

Mr Wm. Bristow, of Worthing, writes: —“The curative properties of your new remedy, fAuralon,’ are truly wonderful. After being deaf for nearly twenty years I am now able to hear distinctly, and the head-noises which were so distressing have completely disappeared. No sufferer should hesitate to try this splendid cure," This is just one report out of many.

“AURALON” is sold in packages at 6s 6d each, and can be sent to any address post paid upon receipt of remittance. Send your order direct to “AURALON,” care of Kirk's Agency, 12 Railway Crescent, West Croydon, Surrey, England. —Advt.

I will hear something of the horrors of slavery and of the thrills of pulsating liberty that came to (his man when he eeased to be another man’s slave or chattel. So I asked him, after wo had broken the iec of conversation by general remarks on current topics and the weather, what about the old slavery days, and he at once answered: “Well, massa, all I can say is dal no niggah want nutting in dem good old days.” And so it was clear he had still the brain and soul of a slave. All he wanted was someone to feed, clothe, and house him in exchange for his labour. He had *bcen so cramped by the shackels of slavery that lie wanted, not liberty, not opportunity to use brain and muscle, heart and hand, and maintain himself, or the soul to scorn to be be-

holden to any man for support. He longed for the old slave’s existence, and just to creep back to Hie cabin and warm fireside, food, and clothing provided by some owner who would see that he and the horses, cows, and pigs were fed and sheltered, protected, and cared for as property that would otherwise lose all value and become unsalable. PAEPEKLSTXG POLICY OF “DOLES.” And to-day in Croat Britain what is called the “industrial situation” is very much (he same. “Labour” is looking to Government as (lie slave looked lo his master Cor good feeding, housing, and clothing. We have sown wind in stimulating “Labour” to believe that if bread is scarce and dear then the Government must provide a shilling loaf for ninepeuce; that if bouses cost more to build when wages are high or production is reduced by “Labours” ea’-eauny policy of restricted output, then Government must disregard (ho cost of building bouses and

let a 15s a week bouse for Ss a week', and charge the economic loss in all eases to some mysterious central fund, and so on ad infinitum. .Simultaneously “Labour” demands reduction of rents with in-

creases of; waives, and scorns such trilling details as resulting cost of production, presuuiahJy relying on Govermnont later, out of this mysterious central fund, to reduce this increased cost of living to “Lahour" as consumer to whatever price “Labour" considers ought to be the selling price, regardless of cost of production or of rale of! wages. We have sown the wind, and are reaping the whirlwind. But I am certain these false economic ideas are oniy transitory. The working man is neither ford nor a glorified pauper desiring to live in Government almshouses, nor to be hand-fed by Government just as if he were a ehiekon. Ho will soon learn that all these grants in aid and doles arc paid for, not out of any mysterious central fund, hut by the consumer, and as to 05 per cold, or more of the consumers, they are himself, the producer. We can only raise and consolidate humanity by instilling self-reliance and industry. WHERE GOVERNMENT HUTS’ ENDS. All ‘Governments are themselves paupers depending upon money provided by the work' of the taxpayers. All that Government can wisely and in equity do for any of ns is to give justice to all. Equal opportunity to all and favouritism to none. A century ago the pampered favourite of Government was what we call the “classes." To-day our Government is attempting to make pampered paupers of the “masses." The gospel of .something for nothing is the “gold brick" that ought to delude no one but prospective candidates for some lunatic asylum, and I (Concluded on page 4.)