TnANt»AC'TIOSS OF SECTION F. 



869 



I hi' surl'iicf 



of pounds a vt'iir. IT India, iiistond of daily wni,'v's of twoponci^-lialfpeiuiy, wcro 

 m tlu' I'liit'-'d Sillies mtcs, (he ixijuilation could uhmidanlly ••"iisiiiin' iiniinrtod 

 maiiuracturos. It was, tlieri'lurf, to llio i)ri>i.'ri'.ss of tlio worlil they chioHy luvd to 

 jyoij forward with Iiupc. 



ti. ITarmonii'n (did AiitmiiinisiiiH In fho Social Forces, 

 Jlj W. n. i)or(iLA.s.s, II. A. 



Miiiiy writers on oaononiii-s have tau^'ht that all the social forces are harmonious. 

 Till' intention of tlio writer is to show that in the social forces there aro certain 

 aiitn(runi.snis. 



Most text-books teach that excliany:a value is an essential characteristic of 

 wealth. Hut wealth is directly proportionate to satisfaction and inversely to toil. 



Wf iiieaauro wealth by the increiise of the ratio 



satislaction. 

 toil 



As the numerator in- 



creases or the denominator diminislies, wealth increases and poverty diminishes, 

 W'huii toil ^ 0, then poverty disappeiirs, value disappears ; but aeconlin;,' to the 

 above di'linit ion wealth dis,i]»|)i'ars. The definition is therefore illof^ical. 



llminonies. — The carpenter by uttendinj; to one pursuit produces mon; than ho 

 otherwise could. The blacksmith does the same. Iherefore, when they exchaiii/e, 

 each rcfeives more, and each is therefore enriched. If one is rewarded better tiuvn 

 tht'Otiier, this attracts competition. If one is more burdened than the other, this 

 ri'pels competition. Tlu-re are there'bre three harmonies — mutual enrichment, 

 r|tmble reward, eijuable burd"n. 



lu general, the methods of production ns to time, place, implement, and other 

 agents, are all harmonion?, tendui.i,' to the public; weal. 



Anfiii/oiiinnin. — (1) Fuel on the American continent was not lonp apo very 

 akiidaiit. Consumption has been rapid, po])ulation has increased, the ratio of 

 >iipj)ly to diuuand has diminisiied. Hence tlio community is poorer in tins coni- 

 nwdity. The value has increased: tiiereforo the holders of the stores of fuel are 

 richer. Here is enrichment on one side, im])overisliment on the other. 



Whiit is true of fuel is true of minerals and laud. 



{2) Tlie methods of proilucinjr many connnodities have been much improved, so 

 tlial labour jjroduces in much <rreater abundance. Tiiis induces intensilitid conipe- 

 lition ill seUinfT. The natural products, minerals and land, cannot l)o increased ; 

 lit'iiee as demand increases with increased population there is diminished comjieli- 

 tiuii, Here is a second antaj.'oni^^m — diminisiied comi)etition against inteiisitied 

 competition. 



Tlio product of the poorest land in cultivation marks the limit of the wapes of 

 unskilled labour. The surplus over the wage fund (without taking into considera- 

 ;wn the modifying force of capital) goes to rent. After population attains a 

 ctrtaiu degree of density, any increase of population compels resort to inferior 

 .-oiirces of supply. This tends to diminish production. IJiit poorer land being 

 cultivated marks a decrease in the wage-fund, leaving more to rent, a third 

 antajronism. 



These examples show that exchanges are of two kinds : 1st, harmonious ; 2nd, 

 antagonistic. 



They show to some extent why the producers are not the possessors of wealth. 



They teach two important lessons : — 



1st. Incidence of taxation. — Avoid imposing taxes that will counteract the 

 liarmonies. Impose taxes in such a way that they may tend to correct the 

 antagonisius. 



-nd. In disposing of the public lauds suck conditions should be imposed that 

 tliese antagonisms may be prevented. 



i Notes on Friendlij Societies, ivith special reference to Lapses and Mallnger- 

 inij. Bij the Rev. G, Cecil White, M.A. 



The development and stability of friendly societies is a matter of general interest 

 wd has recently engaged the attention of the (Jonvocation of Canterbury, who 



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