SOCIALIST ILLUSIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 July 1919, Page 6

SOCIALIST ILLUSIONS.

——o-—— ’ Of course the chief impetus behind‘ the Soeialistie agitation Tfe‘Fe’Tli Germany, writes William 0. Dreber,‘who 1 is investigating conditions in that‘ country for the New York “Tribune.” is the widespread belief of the WOl‘k- } men that they were getting their share of profits; that they are being exploited, many say r‘6Tsbed by capital. Hence they have wholly millennial dreams as to what Socialism will do for them when profits are equitably ‘distributed. I am far from setting up the olaim that the distribution has been wholly just, but I am sure of one thing; this. namely, that any possible distribution will fall far below realising the hopes of the German workmen. '“ Just now the newspapers are widely reprinting the results of air" Yfivestiga--tion made by Direetore Deutseh, "or file Allegmcine El‘eE'trical Company 01‘: Berlin Chamber of Commerce. He analysed the returns of 66 of the best financed companies of Germany fbi-“a period of ten years. ending” about"a year ag<f’ to show how their profits were distributed‘ Hé found that‘ these companies paid .‘d'l'fring tifit time 1,424,800,000 marks in wages and salaries, 217,160,000 marks in taxes, and 215,220,000 marks or 13 ITe‘r cent. -of those two sums in dividends. The average dividend on capital was 10 per cent. ‘ '

Out of every 1000 marks earned he found that the distribution was 7.15: follows: 767 marks went‘ to labour, 117 marks in taxes to nation. State and town. and‘ 116 niaflis to 3173" shareholders. In these companies the total number, of employees was 873,781. and if the dividends Had been entirely turnd over to them there would have been a gain of only 11 pfennigs per hour in the Wage rate, and a total gain of only 270 marks a year. Such is the result with a selected list of strong companies of high earning power. But all Companies do not fall into that class. Deutsch says that the average earnings of all companies listed at Berlin do not exceed 6 per cefit. '