N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE

Southland Times, Issue 18846, 11 June 1920, Page 7

N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE

POPULATION AND WEALTH. CAPITALISTS AND WORKERS. (Contributed by the Welfare League!. The Red Labourite propaganda-fa in this Country, as in o:iters, have ore stock in trade argument which i- the fulrntm by which they hope to overturn society. This argument is. that the peop’e of m;r country are divided into two di.-t.uct ilas-es, namely, wo.kers and camtalist-. they deny the corporate uni'y of the Slate, and ailirm. that the Slate simoiy cund-ts of the two cla.-si s named, that the-e cla-ves are conPlant iy at war v.ilh each oilier, and that “it the hi-ioric misdon of the working class to destroy th■ • cap-!;.!'-i class and obtain complete mastery of al’ the means of production, diriimtion and evhange." In order to Incite the workers attack the eapitalists t!’e R/ds h.ive drawn a fc.m-y picture of I lie r tpitali-t. as a kind of rap-te'-ms mon-ier w!m live- in Idle and wasteful luxury, and v. In> fattens on the spoils of labour, drawn to him m the form of rent, interest an ! prelim. If you sttg pest to rite Red :h •: !;•• ha- - rviden'ly been ns from yotm rd-or'.';. I ion Em eapitalis't is generally a worker, ami workers in the mass posses- and front by tie- ownership of much capital, ha simply foams and denounces you. or ref •>-- you to his inch pr:c-i. Karl Marx. For I!te : ’i 1 ■ of givi" ; mope accurate \ ' v of I- ...;r r-- :e ry I- rmd'y con- .«.*!• UP-d we mo: ,u -w wltat the pm.iu-lat.a-a ■ , fr-, ■ ■ a n .'-m.-nde - tandpoim. ami is I:-; i ami re -d IdVbHN- PF t\ii'n.ATH !N. T dnm: liv- 1.--: re:;-;:- Figures of the do lumi n. w-> iin.l that an amdysis of the number of per-vn-' ; n eaeh e.ivut'iilion gives the following Figures for noth, .-axes: - Prufc.-sion-.i. E:: bracing all per-Ti-ainly engaged in the government and .’.••fenee of the country, nvi in sat’.-lying the moral, intellect:; d ami social wants of its intia.id• arm 42,101 IN: ;a, End ra i:-g ::!! persons e:in. Em up- iy of ! -oard ami i a-bdn -. an.i in. rendering p-ron.d setwice- f-r vducii remum:-; ■;b n is remdiy mi-i 41,015 Commercial. - Embracing all person -• dirmrev eonnme - ci wit!) the :: mm. d-U c-hut ;ou. v;-- an ; si "iiruv ru pre-cnv anal ■-■■-bi. . , ire, 20-4 Tre o-r. -a; C re" uu :i a; a >n. ImTured Enib'-"i'i :..-;!! p ‘re v: c - redre-- ; ■ al -red, w!a> a-e wo:-!;s' i f' rm Hi: m. out -redmireg i-reirey .- r -o'aly engaged in the -o v-i-i- a.l conino"'s: d inter-e’n-ng" . 116.019 Agva' -. p i, :■ iorai, Miimrd, and other Trim :rv Erednaars .. .. ITJ.tOO lud-- ; :nre\ EmiTacing a l l persons vines rendered, but Em direction of w high services cannot be ex aedy df rermiimd 1-H144 NON BREADWINNERS. Dep-emieni.-. - Embracing ail person.-; dependent, upon relatives or nature.! guardian..', including wives, children, iml others no- otherwise engag'd in pursues for vchmli re ini:neralion is paid ; am! al! persons dependent upon pr-vatc charily. o r w.hose ,-u: -■■ irr i - a burden rei I fie oubIm revenue ' . . 6-ILOIS The aimvc figures give a total population of I,Uni).dpi. It will be seen that Tier" than naif are ,-L.s.-e ! a.- nun-breadwin-ners. am! ;i; ,r. im-i -h 'uld impress till thinking oco r d-* witf: Em alo-clut'' need fern the vtuio-t car" in inainluining ami deveinping the resources of our cc worry wlmn more than hj di’ Em nopi.latmn has to he tide.;uai r -'y i.odniaitmd t lic.ugli mu actually engag.. i in anv work ”i produ"tion. The

mo,-’ important '-I ;.-- ■•town as Ino.-e enjraned i;i ut’-i.-uinir.:!. ; ■ r:11. p.jif'riil and oiler primary pp. 'u ■: c. Nr\i is those in it.dul pur.-ui'a an i t.dloiv'iKj tluvr is til- eomiasr-A id cl.--;. H ■ r;■ lh"n is the i-':r i t.-unrry am! from the dtp ipsatam aivcn limy are nr.irt'.call v all workers or IcO; im a; eiy d-pendert. Where is th ;t inon-ltT, I hi' imsm body of idl- rich pooiiic, anain.-l v.iviiii the l!».Ls fulminate °n c in' a ■•:r- • > has chissilication nrj-1 ■ \ ■ I'- d- i ! o ■■•/; ; I ■ • r>i:dryers m one r!a,s ami the vnr-na in anoiher; some as ydovmv have noihimt in common.’’ WH • a;;k Tin-: mmim.ovf.iis •; To corn met::-!' with. the State is hy far tile iiree-t employer of !:mm;r it, New Zca ’and. Tin- I, aai omattiat: hoi lie-, inrluii ira : herein horomrh am! county councils, hart,our hoard- and :im n • :mc rolls oilier loe ,! ■i. >■ i'--s -ail! r. ,-asond, [(. is difficult to form an estmmi- of what proportion , : > I>* toi al of Ihe ci.imtry ;s (iotte in! r j a. i is cl,: |loym an I. hnl it is bon.-ily my th -- !,■ of New Zm Inmi a -h . vp i!i ; employer. W-- a n ■■'ton of i n • ; yem am! everyb"iv :n I: a ■ i a e.i it.;.'m -it ,r-o in employe;;a ,o\-m- a: ■ • ii ta-.iva-. n ;,!■, vers. ()h I but the :: vo ii •• iy oi hy f >ri\ ate vrho ■ a:’ 1 ■ I ! a --laa tip’ dies or ■-■ mams’ ■ S' ■mr 1-a "dai 'a,m V. h-m Wrn-a• !o 1 ’-i-.0. - : ml; •• an am applie-. th t. a'-: mil pmr union of Ihe poopi -i -■ ■: my. .in-, a- yve in,ve sal. I Pa: I . \ a. he.-. l a Pa! of I hem I fine i mam ‘ a;a-sa- a,r 1 '.er- ttmi employer a a aa■ 1 1 la' '-er ual f,r I to say tl, a m -a Apia- in ’ha ma.-s arc employers ,-\i •> . •aploycr- in :/■ m—d arc workers. Win II r . i > ih" - ftats the I to. Is se.v, "V tI; ■ m-sam they ate a-mmsl.” ji ■ tr -i . !■■ of ara liment t hey tin* rh am; imariam.a Tin-v cry mu about ail i hat- is v.t me m -o.'icay, l,a: aive no er; ni- for :h" ••rmnno;..- w >rlc lir.it i - done and ;iie m.ii! rhst olil.nns under our present se.c ; .1 i■ p r. Ip if pi. ui mo iii'"’ . in New Zetunnd pr’vie a;;; Lovers are mairun-rs as we!! o in-rna-a and have p. v.-ork h.ard to mainp. .• » m whieh llieir ii.vestipenls nr" ple-ei!. This enlerpri.-e is referred lo ;t - if ii v.ita n il'oerv i.y ihn-c w!v> th’nk ; 1 iev ;;a . e spol-.ati miirhly words of ■wisdom in usimr th" tertn- svan' slavery.’’ "production for :! -e ami mo for prrifit,” t.n-i other -id ioSi'i. of the .-aine nebulous chararter. A rccoyipi ion ih u our people in r hi- ;aa.-- are once employees and vo idora v.iil lead to nr-aper unity in citi--1r... to., ..nil to !ie;;rlier re upriiiKi in the field of ministry, hj i- tin- spirit of mui ual i: mie rst and: it ;r iiir.t tin* iteds fear beep. ii.-** p -■ id!- ppmres.- by revision ami not n*\ohot-ioa oy lorce and duplicity. iHvddllßl'Tli >.\ OF WMALTJI.

The subject of wealth :m<l it-* distribution i.-< a very difficult one to understand because wealth i.- .-o often confu.-e<l with the li-.-ur'-s ( ,f value.-- that are no more than the indicators of the ,-tate nr > tatldard of exchange. The re-■! wealth of this country consists of tin- 1 .a 1 and its products, minerals, wool i,i»w,t. <-! c. t the works, manufactures.' buildm;:. wharves, shipping and all other material utilities. All of this wealth is produced for use and is widely used, not by a section, but by the mass of the people. ’When the cry is raised “production for u-e and not for profit,” it is intended to convey the idea production now i, not directed towards use. It is never recognised that the provision of profit from

an industry is u means for further production anil thereby greater service to the users of i.lu> prouucts. it i.s commonly presented to the wage-earners by their mssleautrs as it, out ot (he weaitn created by service., given the workers got a mere exist (■nee and that (lie capitalists take all the rest by tv ay of rent, interest and profits, and lived up-on it. in h.le, wrete ul. useku.s lives. It is nearly tine the people began to understand that this is a mere wild ex-

eggecatmn. It is true that there are a few idle rich, but in propottim to the total population they are a small number and j considered undesirable by th.nking people jof all classes. With regard to most of the | wealth of the nominion, it remains in the | land, works, industries and undertakings I that are serving the people’s wants. The ! private owners do not on the average get | mtr’h mare personal benefit out of this lived wealth as far as living is concerned ‘than the non owners do. To meet their ! own wants the capitalists in general take j but ;i salary of management ami the pro- | tits remain in the business for its defence ;or extension. The main wealth of New : Zealand is i„ the hands of the State for j the servie l ' of ;he people. The next largest i part of wraith is in fixed undertakings and what may be termed the floating wealth is much mo: - ? widely distributed than is generally understood' The Wowing figures shi'w mmii't I’. l ii, 1 : of this rinution : POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK. I Dec. 31. Depositors. Deposits. 1017 . . 566.351 £17,106,020 | 1913 .. 45*d5'.)4 -11.286,702 j OTHER BANKS; | Per head of j i >epo-:tor.-. Deposit-. Population. 1017 S.-..ISU £12.1-50.715 -VM!> 1 2 ; It!Dl 7 1,1 JO .‘KW.Td.’US? *l2l 1 V | Insurance. Amount- Insured. i 1017 Ordinary Lite l _4_',SSo,4oß | Industrial d.o.iJ.U, o 1 1017 • Friendly Societies’ Funds total, i .E2.002.753. j 1017 IS Assets of Building Societies, HUSO.2O-1. 1017. No. of Depositors in Banks, | tin 1,5-12 ; Bank Deposits £60,037,242 j No. of I.ife Insurance Policies. I 11> 1,145: Life and Industrie.! Insurance 40,41 1 .513 No. of Indu-urial t including annuities!. I |S,S23 jFrtcndly docicics' Eunds .. •• 2,002,i53 No. of Membership of 1 riendly Soc-eties. tiS.77l ; Building Societies’ Eunds 3.189,204 Total .. £111,690.712 In addition to the above there are the funds of eo-operalive. societies, of trades ! unions, of ,-orial organisation-', or churches, j and in i.d.iition tin* many liiolisnnd? of ! -mall properties lulu by people for their ! own residence ami use. V* hen our socialist | friends talk ~i i-nt. interest and profits '■ Hmy c-invcnic-n: iy eover up re.e tact tnat all take rent for the properly they let. even they d.o it, that all take interest on what liny lend, and they delude the people as to' (.!;.• real nature and use of profits. When w-" hear the cry against d-iiitaiinn let ns remember that not only are we a nation of employers and workers. ; out we arc all mors or les-.s ca.pitidis.ts. : There are undoubted evils in our social sys- [ tain attaching to the system ot private t ownership, but (here is much that is good 1 -1.-o. Many of the evils are being stage by ! stage eliminated. Excessive rent interest ! and profits are being fought against. The j policy of constant revision can do great j good for the advancement of our comiiui--1 nities and our State. Because there are i tares in our fields of wheat that is no reason why we should pull up all by the roots, or burn down the whole crops. Revision, not revolution, is the policy that is sound be-ansc. whilst destroying the evils of our civilisation, it will preserve the good i hat is in it, and there is very much worth preserving.