Page 11 Advertisements Column 2

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1919, Page 11

Since tin? war there has been a good deal written and spoken regarding the high cost of living. Tho .Scientific Anierieitn in the August number has the heading varied to "High Cost of Loafing." under which appears the following: "We are eqnfrontod by a condition, and not a theory. Prices are high, and show a tendency to go higher. Wages are high, with an upward trend. When prices rise, wages must follow; when wages go up, prices must keep pace. Wage-earners demand that prices drop while wages remain stationary eleven continue to go up; the employer of labor has given over hope of declining wages, but insists that prices must rise while wages stay up. Between the two millstones right in the dead centre of the vicious circle, are some millions of salaried workers who call upon Heaven to witness tliat whatever happens they must pay." The article then points out that if a boy is hired at a dollar a day and picks ten quarts of blue berries, the cost is ten cents per quart. If, however, he doubles the output the cost is cut down to Ave cents. If the boy knocks off in the middle of the day to' go swimming, and only picks five quarts, the cost goes up to 20 cents per quart. This fact is emphasised as being equally applicable to, all other work, adding: "If a man loafs on his job, and thereby cuts down his production, he automatically increases the cost per unit of his product. If working for the Government he at least raises the taxes—his oirn and everybody else's," The article ends: "There is just one way to force prices down under present conditions-j-tliat. is, for us all to pitch in and produv as much of everything that at the same time prices must drop. But as long as we go on cutting the supply and boosting the cost bv loafing on our jobs, prices will hold *')flir unwnrd course."