THE MINER'S WAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17257, 5 September 1919, Page 9

THE MINER'S WAGES

Sir, — think it only fair for the puhlic to have a little say in the matter of iae coal dispute. Coal mining is a dangerous occupation, so I think that the miners should have a little say in carrying on that occupation. The capitalist only loses a _ little capital if disaster occurs; the miner loses his life. The dairy associations, working on a co-operative system. give a certain price for produce, and pav the increased profit in a bonus. Why not employ the miner, say, at 15s a day, and pay a bonus on the tonnage output? The miner will then have guaranteed employment and a certain wage, whjfih, I think, he would increase considerably, and have less cause to be, discontented. Disgusted

Sir,— is to be regretted that the Government does not appoint an economist instead of a lawyer* as President of the Arbitration Court. The reason saddlers receive only labourers' wages is that there are too many saddlers in proportion to labourers. If some of these saddler? were labourers then saddlers' wages would rise and labourers' fall. Every employment exchanges its labour with every other employment at rates which supply and demand fix. If the Court, Labour leaders, and Employers' Association understood economic science they would abandon the Court as an. institution which does more harm than good. The total wages in every community depends first upon the total productivity of its labour, and the share each employment shall receive de- ! pends upon the numbers employed in each calling. Secondly, the total depends upon the demand and supply of each commodity and service being as near equal as possible. If there is an excess of good* there will be unemployed : if there is a scarcity there will be a famine. If all persons will spend their whole income (they cannot spend more), and not try to accumulate, the demand and supply will average equal, and there will be none idle. Goods imported never reduce wages as a whole, rjut always increase them more or less. John Johnson. Mount Albert, August 31. 1919.