NOTES to HENRY

Maoriland Worker, Volume 11, Issue 476, 28 April 1920, Page 2

NOTES to HENRY

Dear Henry,—So long as the "tyage system lasts we must chase wages. And if I for one seem more inclined to help force Brother Grabitall to shell out more and more of the little round discs, <rathor than chase a few rag and bone merchants or sand sellers. I know, 1 know, Henry. I know the. old story of real wages and nominal wages, and all that. I want the whole wage system to be abolished once and for all. But I am dealing now with the system as it Iβ to-day. We can liken the present system to a spinning top. It must keep going at a great rate or it will topple over. You. know, Henry, what we nsPd'to call the top digging its own griive? Well, the capitalist system is now on. the wobble and it s is. digging its own grave. Because the Peace Treaty was written in a spirit of revenge with the ink of hate, it is helping on the end of the system. We used-to get cheap clocks and cheap socks, we used to get cheap machinery and cheap oil, all made in Germany. Then the International gang of Boodlers fell out and my brother and your brother and Fritz's brother agreed to cut one another's throats and we get high prices. We get a lot of other things, Henry. You cannot leave New Zealand now without a permit. When the Mokoia left for the South Sea Islands, each of His Most Gracious, Majesty's Colonial Law-majcers was served out with a permit to leave New Zealand. In 1914 if you wanted to go to Timbuctoo or Germany or Japan or Kaiapoi, you simply booked your pasasge and went. In. those days it. was 'safe for Democracy. To-day you cannot go outside of these little old rickety islands without having your photo taken and your thumb prints recorded, and having permission from some patriotic Reform Minister. Oh, it's safe for Democracy alright. You mustn't buy a gun because Grabitall is getting sgared that you are going to hold him up and take your money back. There are a. thousand and one things you musn't do now, Hint you could do in 1914. "\|)ii must not now advocate that this country would be better as a republic than being tied to the tails of the Cold Country. If you do advocate it you may be tried by a gentleman who in the good old days used to sjiend his time barracking to cut the painter. It's safe for Democracy now. You mustn't read the books you would like to read, because some snuffled nosed reformer doesn't approve of your doing so. "Give Peace in our'tlme.oli Lord." we used to pray. Well you have got it. You have got the peace Jhat surpasses all understanding, what more do you want? You have got a League of Nations or damnations according to whether you belong to the Latter Day Saints or the Plymouth Rocks. But, Henry, even a worm will turn if you put salt, on his tail, and there are signs of even you getting a wriggle on. Look, Henry, my dear chump, go for more wages. And when you have got more, go for more. Fix a standard if you like. I havo. Tlioro is :i very preity gentlnr.a'i in this country who receives STUD,:.'.' , .) and perks. ; That is my standard. ! w:r*' '.o got ! 'ho name as he : r c's un'.i Uu-n—well : I'll 'r: and get him a r ;.••■- v> must fhnsr! Henry, ior .vV.-? Well listen, 1 know there are a numler of my well beloved friend? who say my economics are of the Cheap Jack Order Rights. Let hor rip. Listen, we want more of the little round discs called coins in cur pay envelope. Let mc put it this way. This country is a debtor coun ry. That is to say that wo borrowed from .Tohn Bull and Co., or Cohen and Cc>. (il'a all the same), our own credit. We have Co send to Bull and Co. ten million pounds worth of. goods annually by way of interest. We pay that interest in goods. Labor produces those goods. If prices fall to one half the present values we shall have to send double the amount of goods. See the joke, Henry? There arc a lot of patriotic old gentlemen in this country, who lent what is called the credit during the war. If prices fall they will be able to command twice the amount of the goods you produce, to what they can command now. Chase wages, Henry. Even the judges of the Arbitration Court are feeling the pinch of poverty through soaring prices. And it's making them more human. Listen, listen, listen, Henry Dubb. I had two very decent cobbers once. One was a bank clerk, the other was a gentleman engaged in sanitary work. The bank clerk used to look down on my sanitary friend. His lady wife used to give a very disdainful sniff if we only mentioned the name of the wife of the sanitary gentleman. You see, Henry, the bank clerk was receiving three pounds ten shillings per week. The other gentleman was only receiving two pounds eight shillings. Time passed on and the war to end war was fought and won. We won the -war. But in the mean time the salary gentleman had been able to force his wages up and up and to-day he receives five pounds per week, and the bank clerk only four pounds. And the bank clerk is shivering in his shoes for fear some girl will sneak his job. And he is much mere human, Henry. God bless the profiteers, Henry. I tore my throat raw yelling off a soap box, trying to tell the Dubbs the way out. Henry and Henrietta laughed and would not listen. And the dear old profiteer -is rubbing it In, Henry. He is doing the work in a more business like way. Jockeys are finding out they are human beings. Parsons are finding out that they cannot raise the wind on the Pearly gates as they did. She's spinning, Henry, but she's on the wobble. ~ She's digging her grave, Henry, and the dear old system is coming down. Don't get. scared, Henry; it. won't hurt you. On Earth as it ia iv Heaven, Henry. Say, there are no profiteers in Heaven, Henry, or the roads wouldn't be paved with gold. Shake up old man, and demand higher wages. More discs, Henry, more discs and "for what we are about to receive the Lord make us truly thankful."—THE VAG.