DIVIDING THE FRUITS OF INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1920, Page 4

DIVIDING THE FRUITS OF INDUSTRY

Broadly, the total result, be it small or large, of the combined work of the community is the maximum that there can be to divide. If on the average the community has worked well—been industrious and intelligent—then the total result will be large, and each share on the average ample, whilst if on the average the hours have been short and the rate and quality of work low, then the total for division will be small and the shares small and insufficient, and no altering the rate of pay can make the least difference. Goods produced on a basis of a level rate of'pay of £1 per day will cost £1 and something more to purchase, whilst if the rate for pay had been 14s the cost of the product would be 14s and a little more, but not proportionately so much more as in the case of the £1 rate. Under the laws of supply" and demand,/and under a sane system, the tendency when any commodity becomes dear is towards increased production and decreased consumption. The first comes by increased effort and utilisation of all available means. whilst Die second comes about by the fact that one's means are limited, and if the cost increases, economy in use must follow. But labor unions and others of to-day think that they can defy all economic .laws, by increased ertravagance and gaining higher pay for leas work. They demand, say, £1 per day instead of fourteen shillings, and when they find they can only get the equivalent of thirteen shillings' result they will demand, say, twenty-flve shillings, and find that they will get the equivalent of twelve shillings' result. Of course the full effects will not be felt so long as some sections of the community continue to work well, and so long as their good work goes far to discount the ill effects of the others, but such a condition of affairs—that of a large part of the community making a minimum effort, whilst others make a maximum, or, to put it plainly, one loafing on the other—cannot go on for ever, and when of their own initiative or through the force of circumstances the greater effort is reduced to the level of the lesser the result of the insanity of the system will come home to all in the form of actual want. ''To live we must work." Some may rob for a time whilst there are others to rob, but with no one to rob they will have to go hungry. The "go slow" man, the one who demands the maximum pay for a minimum of ill and grudging work is the meanest robber of all. He is a sponger on the industrious.