Essayist.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 31, 27 October 1894, Page 10

Essayist.

LIVING WAGE AND LIVING PROFIT.

(Contributed to the Nelson Mail). We have heard a good deal lately about the “ living wage.” Now perhaps, it is high time to consider the “ living profit.” Indeed the two are so intimately and inextricably connected, that they cannot be settled .. apart from each other. And not only that, but it seems useless to wait for the settlement of the “ living w ; age ” question first, since no living man seems able to settle it. To do so accurately it would have to be done for each place, according to the conditions of that place, at the time in question. What are the prices of the necessaries, conveniences, and minor comforts of life ? What is the price of bread, meat, and pototces ; of rent, fuel, and clothing ; of jam, sardines, and pickles ; of beer, tea, and tobacco? These points settled, the reasonable prospect of continuous employment must be considered, and this varies much. There are, let us say, speaking roughly 300 working days in the year. It is evident that the man who can reasonably count on 300 days work need not insist on the same “ living wage ” as the man who cannot expect more than 255, and this varies, according to place and trade. Eor out-of-door work, for instance, Hokitika would be almost 50 days worse, for climate alone, than Christchurch. Strikes, too, must be taken into account; one trade is much more pugnacious than another; and the man who may at any time be called out by a power living 500 miles off, and lose m ay be 50 cl ay s w or k, m u s t na t u ra 11 y charge a higher “living -wage” than if he were free. The elements of the problem, what is a “living w r age,” are so many and so complex that even the whole differential and integral calculuses wdth fluxions thrown in, would not suffice to solve it. Turn w - o now' to the other side, the “living profit.” Evidently it is only fair that, if the men are to have “ a living vcage ” fixed by themselves, the masters should have “a living’ profit” fixed by themselves. Is this problem any easier to solve ? Scarcely. It will not do to say off-band “ Oh let them have say double the interest on their capital which they would get in consols.” This, w'hich may be called the “ insurance ” part of his “ living profit,” must vary in various businesses, even as a ship pays more insurance on a dangerous voyage than on a safe one, more in w r ar time than in peace. This question might be much more easily solved if only somebody would kindly persuade India and China, Belgium, Germany, the United States, and all foreign countries just toleave English masters and men alone to settle this difficult qne.-tion their own way. But who will undertake to bell such a cat? Nor is It only for reign countries that interfere ; one’s own Government does so occasionally in a most embarrassing way, either directly or indirectly,, as of late wdth the brewers, for instance. Then, too, adverse seasons and strikes interfere as much with the masters as with the men, and even more in some trades. As wdth the Public Works contractor, for instance. Another embarrassing point to be allowed for is the rapid progress of invention in our day, which obliges many a master to launch out into great and unforeseen expense for machinery or other improvements, if he would not see himself left hopelessly in the lurch, and under-sold by others in the same business who do adopt these expensive improvements. In face of these and other indefinite complications who shall undertake to define what is A “ living profit ” any more than what is la “living wage ?” The principle implied in each expression is good, but its definite application, impossible. It can only be .settled practically by the method of “ trial and error.” Huge combinations whether of Trades Unions or .Masters’' Associations intensify, embitter, and fortify selfishness. Such

! matters should be left to be quietly settled by masters and men together at each place. Such at least is the opinion of a looker-on. One kind of Association, how r ever, does afford some promise of promoting - peace and goodwill. We had an instance of it in Hawke’s Bay during the great strike of 1892 —an association of masters and men. That may promote mutual good nndeistanding, which ‘with the English love of fair play is the chief thing needed. A “ living w r age ” for a minimum wage carries with it in all fairness, a “ living profit ” for a minimum profit. This harmony is delightful to contemplate ; but is it realisable; Yes; if only you can ensure the necessary minimum demand. But can you ? In view of foreign competition, foreign tariff's, fluctuations of seasons, changes of fashion, wars, and other adverse changes, the answer must be; No. You cannot. Master and man must alike run the risk of ruin. The master, of loss of his capital, and even worse, of bankruptcy; the man, of the loss of his wages. This is very sad ; but it is part of the sadness of living in an imperfect w 7 orld. We can easily imagine a quite different state of the world. A master might book every sale, and the name and address of every purchaser. At-the end of the year, he might balance his accounts, and discover, let ns say, that his returns were 15 per cent short of wdiat would suffice to pay this “ living wage ” and “ living profit.” Thereupon, he might write to each purchaser politely announcing this regrettable fact, and requesting him to make a supplementary payment of 15 per cent on the payment that be had already made. And the said purchaser might immediately do so wdth benevolent alacrity. That is conceivable. But w r e have not got to it yet.