THE EXERTION WAGE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13332, 26 January 1909, Page 8

THE EXERTION WAGE.

tO TH* EDITOR O, "*__K PRESS." Sir, —A correspondent, 1 notice, objects to the institution of tho exertion wage, but in tho interests of tho earners and of the community at larjjo he is. in my opinion, mistaken. To my mind it is on© way of allay--ing tho present excessiv© industrial a_.!tatiion. Now, the root of this unrest is tho lack of personal interc-t men have in tho result of their labours. They aro _ept to their work by law, ana not, as it should be, _y personal prorit. Let mo explain, liie men at x__/»en Hill have small interest in t_e success ot the mine. If it prospers they got only their wages; if not. as long us it can keep going, they aro sure of the same wages, ln tact, the mine's success may bo really to their disadvantage, lor a weak company is easier to bully than a strong one, and not in such a favourable position lor oppressing its employees. Again, tho more wealthy tne owners become, themore is accentuated tho distinction between rich and poor, and tho more is the natural envy of the human heart appealed to. YVlry should one toil on little moro than bare necessities in order that some exploiter of labour should acquire untold wealth? It i_ often to a workers advanuigo to make a contract last as long as possible, for h. has a good job, and does not know when or where ho is to get another. Now, the remedy appears to mo to lip in giving tho worker a direct interest in tho success of the work on which he m_> be- engaged. This is the __ aim of the exertion wago or of profit alio ring—another system to be highly recommended. First it is just, and it is worth., great deal to remove the sense of injustice. Second, the element of uncertainty or expectation or the gamble in it, if you will, has no doubt a stimulating effect.

In many case, tho minimum wage is all that a contract will pay, when either capital i_ lost or when "it earns only moderate jntei-est. When, however, really good profits are made, it i- certainly in the interests of all concei_e_ that labour should havo a sharo in these profits. Though it would bo a difficult matter to legislate upon, .fill I believe something might be done by Act of Parliament to encourage, if not to compel, the general uso of some plan of profit-sharing. ' If, for instance, after shareholders had received 8 per cent., workers were to share in all further distributions,, I do not think we should hear so frequently of industrial disputes.—Yours, < etc., ONLOOKER.