MORE PRODUCTION

Evening Star, Issue 19263, 31 May 1926, Page 3

MORE PRODUCTION

TO TIIR Kill TOR. . Sir,--] notice thot lately in your columns'the principle of “more production” lias been suggested, as a way out; in connection with our industrial troubles. Some treat it one way and some another. But the thought behind the suggestion is (hat it the workers were to lie kept to a- greater extent than at present at the making of things, ami were,, they to .work harder, there would be plenty for everybody and all would be well. But it seems to me that something more than that is needed if a s more satisfactory state than the present is to be achieved. Tlio things produced must be distributed. And here we find the system of. Capitalism in the way, for it circumscribes and places a sever? handicap on effective (listrlnitinn by its limiting of consumption. Now, how does it limit consumption? I answer by its wage system. Under this system wages are doled otit (hat are at all times insufficient, to'buy hack what, is produced. Hence in every country there piles up sooner or later a surplus of the things made. '.The world's markets. at bottom, rest on the world's workers for their emptying, their trade. If the wages paid to all those who are truly engaged in production represent' but one-fourth or one-fifth of the retail price of the goods p.-oducod. then how is tlie glutting of the markets to he slopped? It must be evident to (he veriest school child that od worth of lollies cannot be obtaned for Id. Will anyone ucuy that it is the glutting of the markets in the main which pro-' duces unemployment? AVhile the surplus is being got, rid of by wastage, deterioration, and consumption on the part of a. minority of the population, flow are the bulk of Hie workers faring? - In the answer to this last question will be found the real cause of revolutionary talk and action. Auld Tam Carl vie is credited with saving “ there will he inst, as many revolutions as are required.” We must recognise the fart that, while the surplus is being got rid of the workers are not on holiday with full wages. If not. why not? Are'they not the producers of all wealth? fn conclusion let me state my belief, that until those who call for “ more production ” can show, ns a result of such, that the workers are going to materially benefit by producing more, little progress will he made with the idea.- I am. etc,, John- GmrutnsT. liny Jl.