[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR. "] SIR,—Your correspondent,
Mr. Oliver (Spectator, Nov. 18(1), seems to be right in every point. No one with sound judg- ment is likely to reply to him. It is only a question of how long the people will continue to be deceived. There are signs of their eyes opening. Meanwhile it may be wise to speculate on some of the probable results in the depreciation of wages following upon the Insurance Bill. Is not a fall in wages likely to be general? The best servants and best work- people in every department may be retained at their present wage, but only the best. What about the less capable and the aged and the weak ? Will not farmers, small manufacturers, shopkeepers, and householders cut their wages down to the lowest figure possible (considering, too, that they already insure them against accident) by deducting the employers' insurance contribution as well as the employees' ? —and with the cost of living increasing ! Is this inevitable, or not ? But if it happens, Mr. Lloyd George's fall may come sooner than is expected even by thinking men.
More discussion on this point might, at any rate, be invited, because so far the working classes scarcely apprehend an actual fall in wages, although for other reasons many of them object to the Insurance Bill.—I am, Sir, &c., 0. M.
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