DOLE FOR THE RICH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 27

DOLE FOR THE RICH

How to bring about a revolution without tears or bloodshed; is explained in "The Time.is Now Ripe," which is an original attempt by Montague Grover to solve the present economic problems of the world. His theory is that, before many years, Russia will be paying a basic wage equivalent in values to £6 a week in Australia'today, and that it will then be impossible to retain the existing social system. He neither advocates nor prophesies any revolution, but puts forward the, fantastic idea that the rich man and not the poor man should be put on the dole: He holds that all capital should be confiscated forthwith and all incomes, average over the past five years, should -be guaranteed to the recipients until.death. The author points out that the production of Australia has been officially estimated as between the extremes of 600 millions of pounds and 300 millions of pounds annually, and that the portion absorbed by .the wealthy cannot reach more than 30 millions of this. He vigorously denies that it is the money taken from the general finances by the capitalist which makes people poor, contending that the real, menace of the capitalist is that he stands in the way of increased production/ Arguing from this standpoint, Mr. Grover has estimated that,. in a properly-planned system, ' production could be quadrupled, leaving the capitalist pensioners their 30 millions and. providing the balance for ■ among the workers of a Socialist State..:'

"The Time is Now Ripe," which is published by Robertson and Mullens, Melbourne, is written with a touch of humour, and the author paints a ludicrous picture of.the new order, being brought into operation, not by Labour, but by "a strong man."