The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23,1920 LABOUR AND CAPITAL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12019, 24 March 1920, Page 4

The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23,1920 LABOUR AND CAPITAL.

THE only essential difference between Labour and Capital is that the, latter is the stored up product of the former. Each is useless without the other, especially in these days when large undertakings reqnirf the application and use of largo reserves of the stored up product of labour. There should be no hostility between the two, nor would there be were it not that some cunning men find it possible to earn handsome salaries, or gain profitable positions by fomenting trouole, and persuading the worker that the capital by means of which employment is provided is really hurtful to him. This idea runs to extremes in some countries, producing Bolshevism in Russia, and turbulence and wasteful strikes in other countries. In America the labour agitators have been very active receutly, and even Mr Gempers, the tactful and wise head of the American Federation of Labour, has not been able to restrain some sections. Bearing on this subject, Mr Palmer, the United States At-torney-General, in a recent speech, suggested an absolute industrial armistice in the United States for six months. He is reported as saying that if both Labour and Capital would be active and con stant in production it would bo possible to arrive at a satisfactory solution of many problems now confronting the country, but all must be prepared to make sacrifices. Such a period of freedom from unrest, he declared,, would soon result in increased production, which would bring about an era of easier living and better times for all. On the other hand, selfish demands by any one class would not stimulate tire national prosperity nor permanently benefit even those obtaining such demands by force. He strongly discountenanced strikes and declared that, while Labour was entitled to a larger share of the joint product of money ° and la our, the chance of getting it was not advacued, nor the justice of it more widely recognised by the refusal of Labour to produce. He pleaded for patience under conditions which have resulted from the world war, for if impatience and selfishness rule and immediate forceful and direct action bo taken it is perfectly obvious that nothing but disorder and delay can result. “Idleness/' he declared, “is no panacea for tins ills from which the country buffers. Work may be. The cost of living is only enhanced by tlv idleness of men; it can be reduced by the intelligent industry' of all Other remedies may bring us part way on the road, but they will never bring us the whole distance. These remedies should and will be applied, but; the most effective "cure'that can bo desired will be the general acceptance by ail our people of the golden opportunities Of this great; land of plenty for all iwho give the best that is in them.”