HITTING A LIE ON THE HEAD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3045, 8 June 1926, Page 4

HITTING A LIE ON THE HEAD.

A TALK ABOUT WAGES. The best thing to do with a lie is to hit it on the head and knock it clean out of time. Of course, it is well to make sure that the statement, theory or dogma to he (Struck is false before commencing your attack. Socialists are accustomed to naming the wage system of our time “wage slavery.” This, in our opinion, is both a falsity and a stupidity, and we have no hesitation in saying so. Wages instead of being a mark of slavery is, indeed, a sign of freedom. No slave ever received wages. A gift or benevolence —sometimes, yes; but a payment by way of right to the slave never! Let it be noted that every wage paid to every worker whether £5,000 per annum to a Prime Minister of 5/- a day to a charwoman, is the result of a contract between two parties, A, the payer of wages, and B, the receiver of them. In the wage transaction there is no element of enslavement. B. receives as of right and A is similarly required to pay. The fulfilment of contract on both sides is an evidence of individual and social freedom. The worker receives his wages as a free man and the employer pays under the law of social freedom which requires the observance of contracts. To begin with, you will note that only a free man can make a contract. In the time of slavery in America there was no contract, between A the planter, and B tlie “nigger.” If B got a coin for hold C’s horse, such coin in law belonged to A. The economic mark of the legal status of freedom from personal servitude was shown when A first commenced to pay B wages. Not only is the “wage slavery” cry utterly false, but it is also stupid. The words are used, no doubt, to incite class passion; to make the wage earner think that anyone who employs him is his enemy. What is lost sight of is that if you teach men and women that they are slaves they may become to believe it and live slavish lives. By instilling the truth that they arc free they are more likely to exercise their freedom, and freedom like the human body, grows with exercise. In America the great Labour Unions and Federations have adopted the plan of calling to their members “we are free Americans.” The result is shown in greatly increased personal pride, iniativc and independence. “Labour” in Britain has been stupified with the social gag of “wage slaves” and more and more the worker has come to leaning on the Almighty State instead of standing upright on his feet. MAKE THE BEST OF IT.

It is true that full freedom comes but stage by stage. The worker of the earlier period in entering into wage-contracts was at great disadvantage in comparison with the other party to the contract. But freedom to make a contract carries with it freedom to make a contract as advantageous as possible. B, the receiver of wages, can improve his position in three ways—(l) By joining with hi? fellow workers to fix the terms on which they will agree to work. The law affords full liberty of combination. (2) By studying industry and more especially the advancement of the industry- from which his or her wages are drawn. (3) By co-operation with the other partner in industry to produce the best results. In some contracts after the settlement is made the contracting parties may each go their own way. This is not so in industries. The wage payer and the receiver have to work together in order to maintain and improve the contracts to (lie advantage of B as well as A.

To make the best of the position contracts should lie held inviolable by both employers and workers. Breaches on either side are likely to lead, in the end, to the disadvantage of both. “Sweating conditions” on one side and “go slow” practice on the other though they appear to give an advantage to the parties taken singly, but result in injury to (he industry on which both depend for success. The wage earner is no slave, but a free individual. It rests with the workers whether they use their freedom wisely to their own gain and the good of society to which they are all members. Not by reliance on mere catch words or the exercise of class passion, hut by the application of common sense will they succeed to greater freedom and material prosperity. (Contributed by the New Zealand Welfare League).