THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1920, Page 2

THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM.

■* (To the Editor.) Sir,—Your loader in Tuesday's paper anO nlso In Wednesday's cannot impress a. visitor to this country very favorably. Confusion, conlilct, and extravagance, would be a brief summing up after perusal of the two articles. Such a state of affairs must lead to disasier. And neither yourself nor Mr. Beauchamp has brought forward any solution of the trouble. Apathy is evident, everywhere. No organised bodies of either side are making advances to the other to balance things up. Mr. Beauchamp's "cliiol concern was clio remedying of antagonism between labor and capital." In my humblo opinion, this feeling will exist until Labor receives a more equitable reward lor its energies. Can you expect Labor to say "everything is lovely" after reading that the' capitalist is paying dividends at an unduly high rate. When it sees capital with woollen clothes, while Labor goes in cotton, and when capital erects fine houses, with every convenience, and Labor goes with bare walls, and not even tho simplest convenience. The above are a lew of the contracts that keep labor discontented, and it will remain so until if is allowed to get a share of the profits. How is the landlord capitalist faring just now? Mr. Beauchamp does not Ignore the stupendous dlfflcultles which must be overcome if disaster is to bo averted, and then "no reasonable sacrifice would be too great lo bring about cordial relations between the two forces," if harmony is to result. Now what Is a "reasouable sacrifice." It Is certain that if concessions are to be granted they will have to 'be from the side or capital, because It cannor reasonably be said that Labor is getting moro than its share. And if any reform or levelling up is to be done, one side must do it, and do it ungrudgingly. Mr. Beauchamp wants more "sanity" from Labor, and you attempt to support him by referring to the obstacle being the "extreme views" held by som#>- of the Labor leaders. Hiilct down, It simply means that, if labor would work harder and longer, for harmonv and under worse aondltlons, and be contented with his lot or little, the obstacle would bo removed and dividends Increased. And what Is the meaning of the word "sanity" as applied to Labor, and "extreme views." Every industry and organisation must have its leader, or hoad and "extremist" can only be another name for that person, even If It is the head of the Bank of New Zealand. In .conclusion, from ■which side dojy.ou expect the advance to be made to settle 'all disputes? Organised LaboF -Is persistently' applying for concessions, and we know how it gels them. ■ But if in unorganised Industry-a- laborer applies for a concession it is invariably declined, and should lie approach his fellow workers and make joint application, he Is a waster and agitator, and probably dismissed. Apologising for maklnt such a demand on your valuable, paper, and regretting that I cannot deal more fully and In detail with the burning subject.—l am, etc., ■ „„ MONTANA. P.S.—Drastic reforms require drastic measures. Inglewood, June 23, 1920.