Our National Drink Bill as It Affects the Nation's Well Being: A Series of Letters to the Times and Other Newspapers, Together with Original Articles (1884)
Our National Drink Bill as It Affects the Nation's Well Being: A Series of Letters to the Times and Other Newspapers, Together with Original Articles (1884)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 Excerpt: ... other things, improve the position of the working man, for the simple reason that a rise in wages would involve increased cost of production, and consequently higher prices for goods to the extent of the increased cost induced by the rise in wages, and so the extra wages would be swallowed up in the increased expense ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 Excerpt: ... other things, improve the position of the working man, for the simple reason that a rise in wages would involve increased cost of production, and consequently higher prices for goods to the extent of the increased cost induced by the rise in wages, and so the extra wages would be swallowed up in the increased expense of living, and the position of the workman would in no way be benefited.. But such an arbitrary rise in wages would be likely toresult in mischief. I will illustrate how this would comeabout, by reference to the cotton trade in which I am-engaged. At the present time, as those who are engaged in this trade know, it is very unremunerative. Many spinners and most manufacturers are losing money. How has this come about? Simply from the fact that the demand for goods is not sufficient to take off the production at paying prices. As a consequence, some mills are stopped wholly, and others partially, and there is more or less of poverty and distress as the result. But I venture to say that for one case of poverty caused by the bad condition of trade, there are at least twenty-cases caused by the intemperate habits of the people themselves. The remedy suggested for this poverty and distress is 4o advance wages. Now, how would this operate? In the first place, in regard to those whose poverty.arises from dissipation, to increase their wages would only be to-afford them greater facilities for indulgence. As you remarked in your able leader, "their spending power is illimitable," and much of what they spend is money wasted. A rise in wages would therefore give to them no help, whilst, being an increased draw upon trade without corresponding compensation, it would necessarily injure it. In this manner, therefore, it would prove mischievous. But...
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