THOSE HUNDRED MILLIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22209, 9 September 1935, Page 12

THOSE HUNDRED MILLIONS

Sir, —It seems to me to be necessary that the charge made against the present Government,, that it; has, during the last four years, robbed the workers of New Zealand of one hundred million pounds in wages, should be studied from a common-sen:?e poirn; of view so that the public may be able to pass an opinion upon it. The amount stated works out at 2o millions a year. Now, it is universally admitted that the only source from which wages can be paid is the product of the labour. Consequently, the first duty of those making this charge is to prove that New Zealand was, during thus last foir years, capable of increasing; its production to such an extent that 25 millions annually could ha% r e been paid out in wages, over and abo re the amount actually paid. To increase the amount of wagea by 25 milliojis a year, the total production must > have been increased by at least 35 millions a year, assuming that 70 per cent of the production costs would be wages. If the Labour Party has itnown all along of some new production, or some extension of existing production, that would have added from 35 to 40 millions annually to the national turnover, and kept it dark, then they and not a Government ignorant of thus undreamtof source of wealth, are responsible for this colossal robbery. If no sueh source of a wages fund erristed, there can have been no robbery; for one man cannot rob another of what does not exist. I feel sure that the general public will await vnth interest an explanation that will clear tip the points I have raised. A. Wahbcbton. Ngaruawahia, 7/9/35.