WAGES UNDER SOCIALISM.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 220, 16 September 1919, Page 9

WAGES UNDER SOCIALISM.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I agree with. "Freedom" ithat the electors should be informed what would be the basis of wages under Socialism, before taking a leap in the dark, by giving the control of industries into the hands of any political party. The political architects should give us-plans of the future structure before the o-ld building is destroyed. Before we can say what is the basis of wages under Socialism we must get at the true basis of wages under our present system of production and distribution. We must also settle what we mean by f<he word 'Socialism." If the word I means anything when used in its broadest sense it means ■"collective ownership" of all the means of production, distribution, but not necessarily exchange. This brings a socialistic state very close to a communistic states, where everything would be held in common, and no exchanges of commodities made. If land under socialism be included as means of production, we at once find undeT collective ownership that all land values—including a.ll values now in the form of shares and scrip have vanished. Under our present system of private ownership we 'have as a "fund" community created values. From this World-wide fund we pay a.ll wages ami profits. The higher the cost of living the bigger will be the fund and amount for appropriation. Many things have to be considered before we could settle the exact amount that would go to the people, fl ho now arc paid wages. In a great measure it would depend on the amount of present values that would be confiscated without compensation, and how much value would be paid for in scrip, or some sort of paper money. Ailso, if that scrip given by the State in exchange for present values, would be interest bearing, or merely orders giving the holders power to purchase labour products in the marknts of the world, ■.K-sumiitg that goods are under socialism, exchanged under our inoirey system, as opposed to weight or measurement. The governments of the world are now in their ignorance of the workings of our social system, interfering and fixing prices at which things shall be exchanged. ■It is only a short step to fix how many po.ta.toet> shall purchase or exchange for say one cwt cf flour. Or how many 1-bs cf wool shall pay for a ton of fencing iwire.—l am. etc.. KOMXSOX CRUSOE.