CAPITALISM

Northland Age, Volume XII, Issue 44, 12 August 1943, Page 3

CAPITALISM

Sir, With the election near at hand we ought to get a clear idea as to the issues involved. Are we satisfied with the old order of things, or should we vote for a New Order; Aie we fighting so as to be allowed to go on without interference as we were doing before the War? There is an old Book that tells us “by their fruits shall ye know them,” we have a proverb, “Facts are stubborn things,” and, “One fact is worth a lot of argument.” So let us look at one or two facts so as to better understand the inwardness of the Old Order of things. Years ago there came into our stores a button that greatly pleased the housewives. It had a beautiful polished appearance and was of new and artistic shapes and colours, and above all it was made of rubber, comfortable to handle and proof against

destruction in the wringer. Suddenly there were no more of these buttons to be had. What had happened? Had there been a fire and the factory destroyed? No, there was a far more destructive agent at work, it was Capitalism, the power of money. A combine of the old-fashioned button making companies had paid a huge figure for the plant and patent, and had destroyed it. So we were deprived of this useful article for the advantage of a few wealthy individuals. This is an example of Individualism and Freedom of Trade. Exactly the same thing happened with a paraffin stove that burnt without a wick, without smoke or smell, and was a great saver of paraffin. It was handy, clean, and of nice appearance either for heating a room or cooking. The clever manufacturers of the old, smelly, dirty, stoves put their cunning heads together and pooled their money to buy up the new idea, and used its patent name for one of their own greedy stoves, the oil companies assisting, realising how their sales would fall. And everyone should know now how the wealthy business firms and the Banks supplied both Germany and Japan with munitions of war, such as scrap iron, even after the war had started. Capitalism and Money know no boundaries and no rule except selfinterest. Capitalism is the antithesis of Patriotism. I am etc., “TEKNION.”