Peru and Modern Times.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 60, 3 May 1912, Page 8

Peru and Modern Times.

We sometimes meet with tho assertion in the capitalist press that for tho workers in New Zoaland to bo able to receive more in wages it will be necessary to produce more wealth. There is ample wealth, yet the production of moro would be easy of accomplishment. Even with primitive means it is au easy problem to supply a community with everything necessary, so what an easy tiling it nvust be if we allow for all tho modern improvements in productive processes must bo evident to the meanest intelligence. An interesting light is thrown on this subject by a perusal of Prescott's "History of the Conquest of Peru." Speaking of the provision mado in Peru to guard against poverty, Prescott say 3: ''Magazines were found by tlie Spaniards, on their arrival, stored with all the various products and manufactures of the country —ivith maize, cocoa, quinua, woollen and cotton stuffs of tho finest quality, with vases and utensils of gold, silver and copper; in short, with every article of luxury or uso within the compass of Peruvian Blcill. The magazines of grain, in particular, would frequently have sufficed for tlie consumption of ihe adjoining district for several (ton) years." This result was achieved, too, without a partklo of machinery throughout the whole country, and whero the population would be about as dense (or thin) as in New Zealand now. It has been claimed that tho Inca's government of Peru was based on a system of slavery, and such wa3 essentially tho case; but there are thousands —nay, millions—of tho victims of our present commercial system who, given the chance, would willingly become slaves under such a guarantee. "No man," says Prescott, "could be rich, no man could be poor, in Peru; but all might enjoy, and did enjoy, a competence." What a grastly reflection upon our present-day boasted civilisation! Here was a raco of semi-barb-arians who had solved a problem which, so our capitalist press informs us, it is not possible .for us to solve to-tlay; a country where, hundreds of years ago, poverty was unknown, and where, when a man met with misfortune, 'tlie arm of tho law was stretched out to minister relief ... in generous measure." Since the time of the Inca's reign ia Peru tlr-re have been many changes. When- heforo men had to toil laboriously for a meagro return, to-day, by the aid of machinery and other improvements, our return is fifty-fold greater for the same amount of applied labor; and yet, owing to our system (or lack of it) of distribution, largo massoa of the working-class are living in dim pov-

erty. Tho class who own the mean. *f life h*ve an interest in keeping t-h« working-class in this sorry condition. Thero is no direct evidence in Pro_cott's work as to th© lives of the commkwi people in IV-ru, but we may in-fer from some of his remarks that liad .their holidays and pleasure time*. Thus there was a certain period giv-G* tip to festivities, on the occasion of tha National Marriage Ceremony every year, which we are told "lasted gcvcral days, when thero was one universal bridal jubilee throughout the empire.*" Also, "each month had its appropriata festivals," when, we may fairly assume, tho people, had their good times, and enjoyed liberty from their toil. The chief difference in our position compared with that of the Peruvian Indians is that the working-class now hold in their hands the key to unlock the door which opens on to a better life. By their industrially organisod and political power, and other mean, which lie at hand, they can, when »• determined, put a period to their ow» subsidiary position. The common people of Peru, though well looked after ia a material sense, were slaves and treated as such. The common people now are courted at election times and floutfd at other timo3. Let us nope the day has arrived when they will depend upon themselves.