WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN?

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1932, Page 8

WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN?

(To the Editor.)

pSl, r/r.c?n- w« picture a shipwrecked crew fh."t S y °"! island,; discovering will • fna , ees tain amount of uhich /.carefully administered, ■': would at least keep them alive?. The-meagre diet does -not appeal to some: of .the men, 'and the captain,,calmly^ suggests- that there would be, a very ample menu for twenty, and thevremaining 'ten could starve/, Is it possible: for us to• conceive ot-.sucn. a situation arising amongst Britißhere, or any civilised race?. And yet is not our Government, and, sad to relate many firms, doing exactly the' Same thine? There ■ are yet many employees, who, although perhaps, receiving less salary than .hitherto,-.:are still able: to'live luxuriously; while other men, jus» as faithful and capable ,in theirown. liue.^are east "adrift _ One cannot help but .-compare:-and contrast the manner in which private enterprise and Government Departments have tried to meet the altered facts of life. In some eases', we find advantage taken of the "depression" slogan, staffs have been reduced,, and the amount of work expected.from the remainder" increased. The desire to, profit by the misfortune of others has been acceded to. Such delinquents are the men who make "peace and goodwill on earth" a very difficult plane to reach. ■ • -■-

Others employers, and .all praise be to them,, although their ; income has been considerably reduced, are found doing their best to at least/ provide half a loaf for their men..'. These are as severely affected as any, but nobly bear with, their staffs, their losses, and one -hears of many instances where the whole staff lias been given part-time work rather than east any adrift. We honour and commend such as the true aristocrats of commerce.

Although every person realises that adjustments have to be faced in every establishment, is it not possible for the losses to be shared by all, and not cast a section adrift, without, the wherewithal to provide for their homes. ■ '.

.. Unless this ■is done- tragedies- will be created, character and spirit broken, men become as ships 'without their rudders. Bitterness and hatred are created for the administrators of these injustices, and it is appareut that never again will there be the faith and trust which has hitherfo existed between employee and employer. Greater issues are involved than the keeping of the ledger balanced. Souls of oneu and women are.at stake. Only those Who have experienced it know the tragedy of the hopeless seeker o£ work.- His hopelessness and despair '- are . overwhelming, wovk" and not charity being his .one cry and,desire. ■" . • '

Cannot the spirit which predominated during the Great War; and which was in evidence on every hand during the recent earthquake, that of co-operation' and a mutual sharing of both the blessings and sorrows of'life, arise once again, and men asbrothers be?—lam, etc.,

AOTEA-ROA.