CAPITAL AND LABOUR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11210, 6 March 1897, Page 3

CAPITAL AND LABOUR.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I beg to call your attention to a letter of mine published in your paper on Dec. 13,1879, under the heading of “ The Land and the State,” wherein the following paragraph occurs, which, although therein, used to illustrate a different subject, is equally applicable to the matter which I now seek to ventilate: — "The unnatural struggle for preeminence between capital and labour—brethren joined together so intimately, that, like the famous Siamese twins, they cannot be separated without destroying both. | They have hitherto each injured the other, and may continue to do so, but as neither of them can be permanently destroyed, it is wise that they should remove the thin: partition which prevents their seeing that their interests are’ mutual and identical, that" neither can progress withoujb the other, and that each can aid the other in attaining to a state of prosperity impossible 'to either while striving in opposition.” V Acquisitiveness is a principle of human nature, which, if exercised temperately, is a blessing, but which, if uncontrolled, becomes greed, which is a curse to individuals, as well as to the whole community. The representatives of capital and labour are constantly at variance, because),' both parties being equally greedy,; they' each continually strive to get the largest share of the proceeds of their united exertions. To obviate the discontent and disputes which so frequently ensue, companies have occasionally been formed, based upon the principle that the capitalist should get a fixed proportion of the profits, and that the remainder should be divided amongst the workers according to the Value of their respective contributions towards the success of the business in which they were engaged. Capitalists, however, have hitherto generally been too powerful to submit to such an equitable adjustment; yet, if it is possible to devise gome means of compelling to such ari arrangement for co-operation, it seems obvious that the now usual strife aifd consequent loss to individuals, as well as to the community, would cease. The following outlines of the system. by which the whale fisheries used to be carried on suggests, a method for carrying on any business!: —As the basis of a fishing venture, it was assumed that capital and labour were of equal relative values. The capital of the speculation was held to con-' sist of, and was represented by, the ship aiid its equipment, and the talents and labours of the men employed, v The sum of the capital thqs estimated waiVdivided into a given number of equal parts, termed lays, which were apportioned as follows:—A definite dumber for the owner of the ship and its stores, and the' remainder for the officers and crew, according to the relative values of their respective services, so that, the larger the profit arising from the venture, the 'greater was the monetary value of each lay, and consequently of the share of each party in the enterprise. Modifications of the sajno principle of co-operation and division of profits were adopted by the in ‘California and the Australian colonies, and have also been adopted in many other branches of labour ; the cooperative 1 system instituted by our Sodden Government being a notable example of a system which tends to peace and prosperity.—l am, i&c.y JAMES M’HAFFIE. '