CURRENT TOPICS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 375, 9 November 1932, Page 7

CURRENT TOPICS

Frank

Colbeck.

(Written for the "Post" by

, Morrinsville.)

Wages and Prices. It is almost a universal belief that, if you increase wages, you increase purchasing power. If you consider the question of how you arrive at the selling price of an artiele, you will find that the selling price is made up of wages, other necessary costs and' profit. If you increase the wage you must also increase the selling price or reduce the profit. In the final analysis, wages must he reflected in selling price. If you raise wages, you must increase selling cost, if you reduce wages you can reduce prices. Profit.

People are inclined to think of profits as almost immoral, but a profit is absolutely essential. No person or firm can go on producing indefinitely unless they make a profit. Th'e present depression is not due to a fall in prices, a fall in prices never made a depression. What makes a depression is the inability to make a profit. It is profit and not price that spells prosperity. Too Much Talking.

It is fashionable to say that there is too much talking done in Wellington. I have seen several letters and articles highly praising Mr. Endean, the member for Parnell, for rebuking his fellow members for talking too much. This, to me, seemed rath'er amusing. Mr. Endean wasted half an hour telling his fellow members how wicked they were to do exactly what he was guilty of doing himself. How can you advance your ideas 'except by voicing them? You may have all sorts of brilliant thoughts, but, if you keep silent, what good are they? Of course, you always are inclined to think a man is wasting time when you disagree with his views. It often takes a lot of talking to carry understanding to the unwilling listener. I am a firm believer in th'e truth of the saying that "Consistency is the J refuge of fools." Pessimism. Nothing to breathe but air, Nothing to eat but food, Nothing to wear but elotbes, To keep us from going nude. Nothing to do but things, 'Quick as a flash' they're gone, Nothing to fall but off, Nothing to sit but on. Nothing to quench but thirst, Nowhere to sleep but in bed, Nothing to have but what we've got, Nothing to bury but dead. Nothing to weep but tears, Ah, me, alas and alack, Nowhere to go but out, Nowhere to come hut baek. Nothing to comb but our hair, . Nothing to wed but a wife, Only to suffer and bear What is the value of life?