HIGH COST OF LOAFING.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 250, 21 October 1919, Page 7

HIGH COST OF LOAFING.

.Since tlic war there has been a rooc deal written and spoken regarding tin high cost of living. The "Ncicntifi American" in the Anirust number lias th heading varied to "The llifrli -Cost o Wfing," under which appears the fcil lowing: "We arc confronted by n condi tion, and not a theory. I'rires are high iuid Rhow a tendency to p- hij-licr. Wnpc are liig-li, with an upward trend. Whei prices rise, wages must follow, wlli'l wajreg pn up, prices must keep pace. 'I'll Waste earner demands that prices dro while wapcß remain stationary or evei continue to po up: tin- employer o labour has given o\«r ho|>c of clerliniii; w agP6, bill insists tluit prires must ri. c while wagi'e stay up. Uetwceii the tw millstones ritfht in the dead centre n the. vicious circle, nre some millions o salaried workers who cull upon Heave to witness Unit whatever huppena the must pay." The nrticl.- then points on that if a boy is hired lit a dollar n da and picks ten quarts of lilue berries, tli •■OBt is ten cents per quart. If. howevci tl' donlbh's til,' output the cost is I'll down to live routs. If the hoy knocks c>l "i the middle (: f the day to go swimmin; and only picks five quarts, the cost <_'of" "P to 20 eenta per quart. This fact i fmphaKiatMl as beinp cqunlly iipplicnbl Jo all other «,,rk. ad.linu:' "li" a mn nafs nn his j,,1, nml thereby cuts dow ''isprodncli-.n. he p.ntoinatieally inereasi 'he cost per unit of his product. I Warlciiiir f,,,- tin. (;,,v,-nim. Nt he at learaises t|,,. taxi - Ills own and evervlmd '■iseV Tli.. arti.le 1-niln; '•There is jll: 0 "c Wiiv to force prices down under pr Re nt (■•inilitiiinx -that is, for us all t P'tcli in an,l produre !T s m ,,,-h of ever 'Inn? th;.i ;l | iii,. sup,,. \\ m ,. pric.-H c:i ""'1 must ■~, down cut th,- c-.-t an wost the supply, and pri,-,-< nm«l dro n "t as )..|ij. ;,, v,e srii on cutting tl mpply nml lmo*Mnji t1... .ost In loafin "n our joli . yr'uv's ivill hold thi-ir ir cniirs,.."