OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 July 1943, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

COOPERATION IN INDUSTRY (To the Editor.) Sir -You report the Dominion conference of the Farmers' Union resolvm to that there must be co-operative ownership and control in industry. Ihats the stuff! AU of our economic and social problems can be solved by cooperation, and I know of no other way. But co-operation must be full and true. Thus, a man or group starts an industrial undertaking. Whoever invests money in this is entitled to oidmaiy correct interest. Whoever is is entitled to salary as such. Pei haps one person draws both interest and salary. AU right. Whoever works in any useful capacity must draw appropriate wages. Now strike a balance between outgoings and incomings There ought to be a profit No ™ th * profit ought to be evenly divided, at an absolutely fiat rate, among all who contribute work, from the managei downward. It follows that there must be co-operation of control. Such a system would be equitable to all, and afford no excuse for labour disputes. Again, if we, the ordinary people, complain of, say, the price and quality of clothing, there is little except custom and want of enterprise and vision to Drevent us. running our own clothm o industry co-ooeratively. The Rochdale pioneers did more than that. So, long as we are free to join a “co-op and run it, we really have little right to grumble about prices. The great British co-operative movement shows that we could, if we would, supply all our needs co-operatively. Also, we could run all of our industry m the same Would this not be infinitely better than the constant struggle for higher wages and lower costs? If we workers force wages higher, the other side letaliates with higher costs. I see no way out except by co-operation. If the capitalist side will fairly co-opeiate with us, then good. If not, then we can follow the Rochdale . example, and carry on, if need be, in defiance of them. Co-operation is the solution, and the only solution in a demociacy, of the whole economic problem. —I am, C 1C '’ THREE CUBEb (33). Masterton, July 19.

MOBILISATION OF YOUTHS (To the Editor.) Sir,—l was aghast to read in tonight’s paper that youths of 20 are io be re-mobilised for full time service in the Territorial Force. These youths were first called up when they were 18, so they have already had two years training and have borne more than their fair share of the burden of defence. In March of this year it was decided to release them to give them the opportunity to prepare for a career. They have made arrangements with university colleges and employers, and for three short months they have struggled to readjust themselves to their altered conditions. Now this bombshell! What game is the Minister of National Service playing with these boys and their harassed parents?—l am, etc., WHAT NEXT? Masterton, July 20.