CHEAP ADVICE TO LABOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 309, 30 December 1922, Page 11

CHEAP ADVICE TO LABOUR.

(To the Editor.l | Sir, —Your correspondent "A.D." asks someone to advise the working class what action to take to improve its position in modern society. In the first place, it is impossible for the workers acting as a separate "class" to improve its position by using eitncr unionism or the ballot box to raise wages by legislation, as there is no "fund" from which the fictitious wages can be taken. If this is conceded we ca*n make a man I to improve the position of the working class under the old banner of Liberalism, which has brought the position and standard of living of the workers up to the present standard. Instead of an unlined two-roomed house, which I first lived in, the workers now want an up-to-date five-roomed bungalow costing some £1500 to build. *On top of this they vote for borrowing money to Tallow city councils to supply water, drainage, etc., until it does not pay private owners to own houses or increase the supply of houses. I don t object to picture shows, but if the money invested in providing this amusement had been invested in providing houses like I first occupied in New Zealand there would now be no scarcity of houses —particularly if the working class acted honestly, and gave a fair day's work for a fair day's wages, instead of giving 5/ worth of work for 20/ worth of paper notes, and trying to get hold of Parliament to make that 5/ worth of work legal tender for a 20/ bank note. If the "worker" is to become prosperous he must work and render some service to the people, and become expert at something, even if he can do little more than act honestly in all his dealings. The worker must also "save" instaad of spending all his earnings, so that he can get hold of the capitalistic end of the stick, even if it is only to live "rent free." He must also strive to do "good unto others" by starting in some way to supply some article that is needed by .others, in which case he will he certain that there is a "demand" for his product. He t.ien makes a profit if he is in his right place. Should his "place" be under the direction of men who have command of "credif'hc

must make himself indispensable to his employe: so that he can command a big salary. Small men will get a tine chance to start email factories all over our country districts when they hitch up hydro-electric pover and sell it cheap to the small man. —I am. etc.. A. SAXFORD.