wage. We know it is not the basic wage that wrecks industry. It's big profits. When the profits are not forthcoming the directors would rather close down. A criminal proceeding. Because, after all, any big works is run, first, to supply the community with goods, and second, to give a certain proportion of the community a satisfactory occupation. Whatever net profits are made are made by cheating the worker and the consumer, filching a bit from every one of them, no matter how small a bit. And we will not see wages reduced one ha'penny, to help to fill the pockets of shareholders—"
"What about your own shares in Nestles Milk, Willie?" asked a voice.
"I'll throw them in the fire the minute they're out of date," said Willie, promptly, "they're pretty well waste-paper already."
He went on to answer the charges of corruption and "Tammany," with which the Labour Party in Australia had been accused. This led to the point of class hatred.
"It is we who are supposed to foster class hatred," he said. "Now I put it to you. Does the so-called upper class hate us, or do we hate them more? If you'll let me answer, I tell you it's they who do the hating. We don't wear the flesh off our bones hating them. They aren't worth it. They're far beneath hatred.
"We do want one class only—not your various shades of upper and lower. We want The People—and The People means the worker. I don't mind what a man works at. He can be a doctor or a lawyer even, if men are such fools they must have doctors and lawyers. But look here, mates, what do we all work for? For a living? Then why won't a working-man's living wage do for a lawyer? Why not? Perhaps a lawyer makes an ideal of his job. Perhaps he is inspired in his efforts to right the wrongs of his client. Very well; virtue is its own reward. If he wants to be paid for it, is isn't virtue any more. It's dirty trading in justice, or whatever law means.
"Look at your upper classes, mates. Look at your lawyer charging you two guineas for half an hour's work. Look at your doctor scrambing for his guinea a visit. Look at your experts with their five thousand a year. Call these
