WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 157, 24 June 1908, Page 2

WORK AND WAGES.

The sensible working man pays little heed to the greater part of what the orator of the (Jueen's Statue has to say, but a very large section of the workers really beiieve that they would be infinitelv better oil' if thev received what thev call "the full frnit'of their labor" (sa'vs the Wellington Dominion). Dr. Fin'dhiy's figures should dispel this idle dream.' During (he year liKKi the total earnings of the 2!10,272 workers of New Zealand amounted in the aggregate to v.24,211,000. If a benevolent Arbitration Court decreed an all-round increase of one shilling per day, the wages bill would be increased by £-1,528,243; a lloriu increase would require the employers to pay "only, ,C'.>,Us(i,4Bli per annum'' more than they have been paying. I'eihaps the discontented agitator has the idea that this money can lie taken from the hated capitalist without niatcriallv decreasing bis profits; but what are' the f.i.ts'.' Figures supplied bv the Commissioner of Taxes show that "of all (he shopkeepers, traders, manufacturers, factory-owners, or other business men or linns, only 4827 in New Zealand make over C.'IOO a year.'' .Only SS4 companies and only 174 non-resident, iraders mad.' profits at all. "The protits earned by this fortunate 58X5 ill exce-s of tlie'exemption where allowcl is C7.77.">..i7!l jut annum." 'There are. however, always sonic companies ruuniji" at a loss. The Commissioner »f Taxes estimates that the total losses of the more unlucky of the industrial ene2.iiiin.oilo. When this sum, and a further -iiiii of C2.IIHIMIOU. which is equal to ,". per cent, interest on the C-in.HIH».IIf 1.1 eapital invesied to produce the C 7.775,57'.i prolits. arc deducted from llioic profits, it will be seen that "Capital' has "pocketed'' less than J.'4.00D,111)0. A rise of one shilling a day in the wages of all workers would swallow up every penny of this balance, and a good deal more.