THE HUMAN TOUCH IN INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17124, 20 April 1921, Page 9

THE HUMAN TOUCH IN INDUSTRY

(TROU OTTR OWN CORRISrONDEST.) LONDON, March .». Tli Duke of York, speaking at tho Industrial Welfaro Leaguo (whoso objects aro not to produce goods, but to make men and women, and to prbmoto fellowship in the midst of toil and happiness in industry), said: — The spirit of tho Industrial Welfare Society in reality is nothing new; \l is merely part of a great nttcmnt to aid tho renaissance of that spirit of industrial comradeship which has taken hold of the minds of masters and men in this country, and among the nations in general, and gradually to replace tho old feeling which existed many years ago, whereby any man, whether high up in the grade- of labour or a mere novice, was regarded as a- human factor in the business organisation. Tit© •signs of the times are encouraging for our movement. There is, an, increased sense of a general responsibility for tho welfare of mankind, wbich is a unppy legacy of the war; false judgments aro being eorwlcd, and new ideals «M being formed; many opinions ore alluring and many circumbtanrcs are changing. ' Everywhere men of -all station* and all "occupations are found convinced some of" them for the first time, that this question of the human factor in industry must be dealt with in a new spirit", with a new purpose, and with unaccustomed thoroughness, if we are to set straight .some.of the difficulties that beset our country to-day. Xh« Industrial Welfare Society is dealing with what w 9110 of the most liopeftil movements in tho country to-dny. It, exists for the purpose of focussing anrf developing the many actiritics, ihdn»« trial, educational, and recreational, indicated by tho word "Welfare." We must not bo discouraged by apparently small results. We are tryiug to framo a social policy for the next generation, and wo aro building a national social machinery for the future. (Cheers.)