INDUSTRIAL FERMENT, AND A PROPOSED REMEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2203, 16 November 1920, Page 4

INDUSTRIAL FERMENT, AND A PROPOSED REMEDY.

The liual lecture for this year to (he local branch of the W.E.A. was delivered last Thursday night by Mi M. Ayrton. The lecturer briclly recapitulated his earlier remarks on price as the only course from which rent, wages, interest and pro tils are drawn, and proceeded to compare prices under monopoly on (lie one hand and free competition on the other. In the latter case prices lend to fall, hut will novel - go below the cost of production. In no case has either monopoly or competition had uninterrupted play. Over a sufficiently long period, prices correspond to cost of production. The lightmacy of profits has been questioned as also that of rent and interest, and the modern tendency is towards the collectivist principle shown in municipal and State enterprise, where .private protit is eliminated. This is a counteracting force againsl both competition and monopoly. The capitalist and the profitmaker are intermediaries between producer and consumer, and it is debatable whether the large number of intermediaries in existence are necessary to a sound social system, or merely constitute a parasitic growth on society.

A trade depression is probable within the next two years. In such an event it is difficult for a large number of workmen to obtain employment in the primary industries. There is a glut in the market because too much has been produced and employment falls off, and people starve. It may seem paradoxical that want is caused by too much produce, but it is the result of want of regulation between production and consumption. If the price of a commodity is high, it tends to be produced in excess, resulting in employment in that department falling off, and the unemployed joining the army of intermediaries. The.object of production ought to be consumption. but in tael tinder mod-, urn conditions all production is tor profit. That is now the supreme object, and it results in joint slock companies, immense corporations, trusts and combines. These tend to eliminate the small employer and capitalist. There must be something behind the industrial disputes throughout the world, and we recognise the cause when we say that the dominating motive inspiring all men and women in all countries is profit. It is true that many work for wages, but if you raise wages to .€2O a week men will strike for €3O. There is no limit. The whole organisation of industry is carried out merely for gain in the form of profits and wages. The result is that the small business man is being absorbed by tiie large industries. In some departments the small .shopkeeper is bound to sell as directed by the warehouseman.. Powerful rings and corporations form the main business organisation, as well in banking and linaneial institutions as in the primary industries. In till these institutions a payment is received in addition to the salaries and wages of the staff and workers. The impulse which urges the small farmer, the small shopkeeper, and the labourer is the same in each ease. He i< seeking to escape from wagery. and to obtain saiely and security for the future, for himself and his family. Put it is different with the great commercial syndicates. They have immense property and investments. A different reason animates them. They arc seeking profit for its own sake, and for power, while the average shoopkeeper and small business man, after a life of work, may have nothing in old age but a pension or an insurance policy. THE REMEDY. There is no solution for the future of industry while I lie system of: production for prolit continues. \Ye must regard industry as a service demanding devotion. Me require clothing, food, shelter; a.uu all who perform .faithfully their functions in industry, teaching, etc., are essential to it. It must be expected that all will, do their duty, and the question should not bo what profit it will produce, hut what service does it perform in the interests of the community. Industry should perform its functions as the forces of nature (wind, rain, etc.,) do, to provide the world with its requirements, And the distribution of the social income should he in proportion to the function and quality of service rendered by each, so that only those who do their duty should have the reward of duty. To succeed we must adapt ourselves to the requirements of social activities, and industry must be organised for that purpose. Me must seek to produce the best work possible, and to produce it in the interests of the community, not regarding it merely as a profit-making thing. Men must; learn to take pride in the services in which they are engaged. The social organisation may be regarded as made up of head, hands and feet, and circulatory system. Each has need of the other. None can exist by itself. The wealth produced by labour and industry should circulate in a proper proportion, as the blood does in the physical organism. Otherwise we have fever and disease in the one as in the other. Too many millionaires and paupers is like too much blood in the head and too little in the feet. With a proper uniform circulation the .social organism will grow strong to throw off parasitic growths and industrial disease. Instead of competition which leads to desolation and death, we may choose co-operation, -which tends to unity and health. Instead of the social tables being an aserably of savages, where each strugI gles for the bones, it should be a

well-ordered banquet, where each helps the other.

After the usual discussion between the class and the lecturer on the subject of the evening, Mr Ayrton explained that under the constitution of the Association it was necessary to elect a •committee to attend to the business concerns of (lie class until (lie beginning of next year’s work, and to, arrange the finances of the local branch. Messrs Rowlatt, J. Ross, Roore Raugiheuoa, Madden and Cowley were accordingly elected. On the proposal of Air Ross, seconded by Mr Cowley, a vote of thanks to Mr Ayrton for the interest and trouble he had taken in the eloss was Heartily carried.