CAPITAL AND LABOUR

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21217, 13 September 1940, Page 7

CAPITAL AND LABOUR

(To the Editor.) Sir,—So the age-old antagonism between Capital and Labour is to be reconciled! The two poles of opposite polarity; the primal pressure and resistance, should, according to Mr Warburton. arrive at a state of Nirvana, complete affinity. Like many others, including Mr Warburton, the writer often indulges in moments of wishful and wistful thinking, but the real objective worl(L pulls one back to realities, and whafl are the facts relative to this conflict creating the “ two nations within the community ” of which Disraeli speaks? A division of purpose and aim among the human elements in a capitalist industry is the chief cause of friction and strife. This difference of aim is always present, sometimes more, sometimes less. It is, in fact, a normal and accepted feature of industrial life. The aim of capital is. always the highest average rate of profit. Costs of production affect profits. To increase profits costs must be reduced. Labour wages are a part of of costs; therefore wages must be reduced. On the other hand, wages and wages increases are vital to the workers. These two forms of the antagonism are imminent to capitalist society from its very origin, and from which it can never escape except through a radical change in the social relations of production, and this will eventually come about. Time and motion reconcile contradictions; therefore Mr Warburton can rest assured that everything will come out all right in the end.—l am, etc., T. HARRIS. Frankton, September 12.