THE IDLER

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9076, 22 June 1915, Page 3

THE IDLER

To the Editor "N.Z. Times." Sir,—ln jour issue of the 16th you report Mr H. E. Holland's lecture, in wliioh vou emphasise one point oifly. Mr Holland said the workers in Great Britain produced wealth to the ’ value of SiOOO millions, of which the "idlers” received 1500 millions, only giving the workers 500 millions as wages. He has stated publicly again and again that this is a swindle, and that the workers expect to have the lot. Those who heard him will confirm what, I say. The fallacy, of course, lies in his omitting th© cost of materials. _ Take the first item in the New Zealand Year Book for 1913, page 627. The industry is "meat freezing/’ The wealth produced was about seven million, and the workers only got half! a million. It does look like a swindle? But the cost of materials is given as six and a half millions, so if the “idlers’’ had given the workers the-whole seven millions . . t The "idlers” had also to pay for interest on capital, taxes, coal, etc,, bat that’s another point. Mr Holland's hearers should take his favourite argument with a grain of salt. —I am, etc., WiIEIMA.