THE BUNDLE OF STICKS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 14, 9 June 1911, Page 14

THE BUNDLE OF STICKS.

The old man called his son to him to explain the mysteries of business. "My son," said he, " you have finished college and you must now make a show at least of getting busy. Let mc explain to you a few fundamentals. Here I have a bundle of sticks. See if you can break tiiem." Tho young man had been absent from school with appendicitis at tho time his class had read the old story of tho bundle of sticks, and so ho was not next. He tried and tried to break tho sticks, but co\ild not.

" See how easy it is," said the old man, taking the sticks, cutting the cord and breaking them ono by one. " Gee, that's a bum joke," said the young man, as he puffed his cigarette and tried to look interested.

" It's no joke," said the- old man. "It is a parable. The bundle of sticks taken together represent organisation, which is very desirable in the case of capital. If, however, we look upon the sticks as representing labour, it is criminal and immoral for them to be tied together. They would then represent a union. Always keep your capital sticks tied together and your labour sticks separate." " I should think what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander," said the son, whose point of view was still blunt. " It depends on how big a goose you are," replied tho old man. —Ellis O. Jones.