PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21212, 7 September 1940, Page 12

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondents whose letters are welcome, but for whose views we have no responsibility. Correspondents are requested to write in ink. It is essential that anonymous writers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied with, their letters will not appear.

RESPONSIBILITY OF UNIONISTS

| (To the Editor.) Sir, —“ A Real Worker ” has carefully omitted answers to any of my points. lam not complaining of any man receiving £SOO or £IOOO a year. ' I am merely showing that it is both unfair and illogical to criticise one ; section of the community for asking j £290 a year when other sections are I considered incapable of keeping body j and soul together on less than £SOO. i I would like to point out that any ; man’s “ ability to make a business | pay ” depends on his capacity either j to charge the consuming public more j than his goods cost, or to pay his em- ] ployees less in wages than they pro--1 duce in goods. I No matter how honest, fair, or geni erous a man may be (and I think i most men are so), he must, if he j wishes to retain his income, either ! take from the consuming public or his workers more than he gives in re- > turn. Further, incomes whether ; earned or unearned, tend to perpetuate themselves, irrespective of the . ability of individuals. For example, ; a “ trammie’s ” son will usually re- | ceive the same wage as his father, j while the son of a wealthy man will either fall into a very well-paid job or will inherit a large income. So far as “ loyalty to the firm that gives him his bread and butter ” is concerned, when an employer suspects that a worker is not returning more in labour than he is receiving in wages he must dismiss that worker, irrespective of “ loyalty.” This answers all the points raised by “ Pouri,” excepting the salaries of union officials and politicians. I j maintain that when an official or a j politician is paid more than the men | he represents, he tends to forget their i conditions, and sees through the eyes i of the income group to which he bej longs. I Dad and Dave have changed their j address to Waikato Gully. “ Pouri’s ’ j conscience told him, apparently, that to attack a man from behind a nom de plume was rather mean, and. that being so, Snake Gully was perhaps a little too apt.—l am. etc., G. A. CRABB. ! Frankton, September 5.