PROFIT SHARING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16493, 7 March 1914, Page 17

PROFIT SHARING.

TO IRK EDITOR. Sir.—Those who think at all must realise that the present system known as capitalism is nearing its end when they realise the tricks and tactics that the profit takers' arc resorting to. Syndicalism is written in large leaded lines to frighten the innocents, and then the master class proceed to carry on their business on syndicalist lines and call it profit sharing. Cali it what yen like, in the Socialist- vocabulary there is only one word for it, and that’s robbery. You can sugar-coat the pill, you can get parsons to preach and bless it, but it is still robbery. Profit sharing—what does it mean? The safety of the general public at the present moment is in tho hands of tho workers. The working class and the employing class, having nothing in common are suspicious of each other, and if any attempt is made to unduly exploit the general public, then the workers at once show the matter up, and it stops. But once let the employers and the workers enter into a conspiracy, to share tho plunder, then let Air General, Public look out. for they are in for a bad time. The system now is to tnkc it out of the workers ami allow the general public to reap the benefit; and so when the workers try to rebel : e find the general public assisting the exploiting class. These striking workers are an irritating factor to the exploiters. so they tried to keep them quiet by fixing their wages by an Arbitration Court, where there is two to one against the workers all the time. The •workers got, wise to the game, began to rebel again, and their wages were fixed this time bv a policeman’s baton. For a time this will keep the workers quiet, but ibp master class know it is only for a time, and so they arc looking for another solution. Profit sharing means that the workers are to be asked to become partners in a scheme to fleece tho public and share the proceeds. The Socialists will have none of it. They say. Let us form a cooperative Commonwealth and share all profit with the whole community. Sections of tlie workers will enter into this latest game and will talk big about it, will persuade their mates to join it. but the Socialists will he found showing it up in nil its ugliness. Recently tho iron founders tried to induce tlie Trades and Labour Council to get a 33 per cent duty put on manufactured ironware, and promised to share the proceeds with the workers, and it would have boon unanimously adopted if it bad not been for the Socialist on that body. Profit sharing is a. greater menace fo the general pubfcc than all the strikes that ever took place, and in’a measure it would serve tbe general public right if the workers were to join in the game and retaliate on the mass, for the manner in which they allow Labour to be dealt with 'at present. There is only one cure for the present economic tangle, and that is not profit sharing, or single tax, or prohibition. Each of these is like poulticing a wooden log. The only cure is Socialism, or, in other words, common ownership of tho means of life. —T am, etc., 15. J HOWARD.