TOM, DICK AND HARRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1073, 21 July 1924, Page 12

TOM, DICK AND HARRY.

A PARABLE OF WEALTH PRODUCTION. (Contributed by N.Z. Welfare League.) “Labour is tho source of all wealth.” This is the favourite postulate of Socialists. leaving them, of course, to define what is labour. Following this is the demand that “Labour should receive all that it produces” by which is meant all that is produced, leaving nothing towards capital for future production. The Marxian doctrine is that all value is produced by the expenditure of labour power. Tin's does not quite square with the fact that labour maybe spent—often is—on producing what is not wanted and lias no value when produced, but then, so much the worse for the fact. In order to avoid the mental strain of the “dreary science” political economy (as written) we intend to present our views on wealth production in the form of a simple parable. The subject of production and distribution of wealth all are concerned in, for none can do without (what is) tho means of material life. In general wo find that writers on the subject use. words which require special training in order to understand, or are given particular meanings by the writer which are only fully disclosed (if ever) by reading to tho end. As such teaching seldom touches the average busy individual we adopt tho method of a short story (the actors in which being well known characters).

THE FIRST ESTATE. In the island of “The First Estate” there existed three human beings, Tom, Dick and Harry, who were faced with the problem of “how to live.” These three spent their energies in gathering edible roots wherewith to satisfy their hunger. In the course of search they found certain tubers wo now call potatoes. Having eaten some of these they discovered that others grew from the parts thrown hack into the earth. This was a happy enlightenment and they set- to work in growing potatoes for their food. There being no tools of any kind the digging was done with their hands and any handy stick. The work was very laborious, hut Tom was very energetic and presevering and ho produced a surplus of potatoes over what lie required to live on, whilst the other two barely scratched through tho year alive. Tom had stored his surplus in a hole which he protected and that was his capital to start the season with. When the time arrived for next planting Dick and Harry had no seed while Tom had a quantity in hand. He was the first capitalist. By r arrangement Dick and Harry did some digging for Toni in return for a few seed [iotatoes. This was repeated several times as Dick and Harry were more indolent than Tom and in addition he had each year a bigger crop, the added hibour of tho other two. With more capital Tom was able to give more for the work ho got in return, as he did not see any sense in letting any of his surplus waste. The community (of three) became better off and Tom comparatively a rich man. Having now a good supply for his consumption and future use Tom had leisure to think and plan. Tho result was a spade was invented, an important adjunct to the capital in tho way of seed as more work could be done with it than without. Dick and Harry borrowed the spade and paid for the loan hv services which helped to make Tom still richer. By and by Dick, who had bestirred himself, had some leisure—anil also some surplus lor seed. He produced a spade also and became another though lessor capitalist. Whilst Tom was the only capitalist, tho others competed with one another and lie could get more out of them by setting Harry’s wants against Dick’s—Harry being the poorest. When there were two capitalists, Tom had to compete with Dick for the use of Harry’s labour.

Thus we see how the wages of labour rose as capital and the number of capitalists increased. Prosperity clearly 'depends on the saving of a surplus and the use as capital to produce still greater surpluses which are named wealth to be used—either for higher consumption or still greater production. Time came when disease ravaged the production of this community. Dick’s surplus vanished and Tom’s stock was much lowered. Dick sold his spade to Tom. As the surplus for consumption or use as seed was small Dick and Harry had to work a good deal for Tom for the small share which was tho wages for their labour. Again the season changed. Stocks increased, tho surplus was augmented ; prosperity had returned. Dick got another spade and small surplus. Tom had two spades and Harry gave him more service for the use of one. Tom had considerable spare time and being naturally enterprising he set to work on improving his spade and also invented another tool which could be used in production. At this time a number of other human beings arrived on the island. Some of. these were like the three first inhabitants originally having nothing to live on and those went to work for Tom, Dick and even Harry, who found his experience of use as capital to employ others. Others who arrived had capital in the form of new seeds and tools. The prosperity of tho islanders increased hut was subject to fluctuations of depression. Agitators arose who inveighed against the rich capitalists saying “the rich become ever richer and the poor ever poorer.” What was often lost sight of in tho din of argument was that the capital of the rich was only of advantage to them as they could use it. or have it used in production; whilst the more that was produced the greater was the supply and the surpluses which made other capitalists, the competition of capital in this way leading to the increase of general prosperity by the multiplication of services rendered. At a meeting of the settlers after reviewing the whole position of tho development of civilisation within the island, the following pronouncement was decided upon. • That, whilst labour is the original source of tho means of life, wealth cannot be accumulated and distributed except by the employment of capital and, whilst capitalists niaj T grow richer, this can only bo by the total wealth becoming greater so that the average of prosperity is enhanced by the constant accumulation of capital and employment in productive enterprises.