From this table we perceive that if we 

 ignore the claims of intellect and ability, 

 and restrict our attention to the mere 

 physical forces devoted to the production 

 of consumable and other forms of wealth, 

 the wage- earner's contribution only 

 amounts to 30*70 per cent, of the whole 

 of the necessary energy required to pro- 

 duce that volume of consumable wealth 

 which would yield each class and indi- 

 vidual that standard of living and com- 

 fort to which they have been accustomed. 



Now, i^ it can be shown the wage- 

 earner group (under £150) receives a 

 larger proportion of the consumable 

 wealth in each year than the proportion 

 of physical energy contributed by such 

 in its production, it most effectually dis- 

 poses of the sentimental complaint so 

 frequently put forward by the Fabian 

 school of writers, viz., " the lower ten 

 millions, whose toil is the active factor 

 that produces all wealth, not of the upper 

 ten thousand, who in some mysterious 

 way manage to get rich upon that toil." 



This inaccurate statement can easily 

 be refuted in a very simple manner by 

 ascertaining what proportion of consum- 

 able wealth, per year, is appropriated or 

 absorbed by the three principal agencies 

 engaged in its production. The best and 

 surest means to gauge what measure of 

 reward comes to each separate group is 

 to determine what proportion of the total 

 annual income is appropriated by each 

 group respectively. 



This has been very closely determined 

 by the writer so far as Australia is con- 

 cerned, and is shown in the following table 

 relating to distribution of the national in- 

 come for the year 1903 : — 



Share of National Income appropriated or 

 absorbed by the various agencies em- 

 ployed in the Production of Consumable 

 Wealth. 





C3 



05 1-1 



.-H 0> 



1-t CO 



8 



U CO 



a 



^ a 





-5 S3 OS 60 



o a s-" ^ ?« 



s y o o M . 



es 3 I '■' £3 C3 



00 o a> 



1—1 



O 1-1 o 



60 



r S5 



^ 'o o 



a • '«» 'S • 



0) . .» a • 



§ la 



- • Oj © • 

 00 ; e8 -fc» : 



n j3 vj oD 0) 

 .2 a ® « 'S 



"TS n3 -fca •— 

 c8 s^ g .- >4 

 p <D S 9- 3 



