The Dominion. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1919. A SERIOUS OUTLOOK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 101, 23 January 1919, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1919. A SERIOUS OUTLOOK

There can be no doubt as to the bearing on national prospects of the news, that strikes on an enormous scale are threatened in London and on the Clyde. In themselves the prospects now opening before the British people are of brilliant promise, but the first thing necessary in order that they may be realised is industrial harmony and a loyal pooling of effort for the- common good. At time of writing the only detail demand of the workers disclosed in the cablegram is that of the Clyde operatives for a, fortyhour week. Made as it is at a time when all sections of the population are called upon for unstinted efforts such a demand can only be called extravagant and unreasonable. Whether the demands of the London engineers arc on a par with those of the Clyde workers remains to be spun, but ifc is plain enough that industrial peace is even more necessary at this time than in normal times in the-interests of the country's welfare and certainly not least in 'the interests of its working popur lation. The British workers who.are now manifesting an inclination to precipitate industrial conflict on a gigantic scale are strangely blind'if they do not realise that every step in this direction tends to destroy whatever hopes they have formed of .attaining better conditions and (standards of life than obtained before the war. It is agreed by practically all parties and sections of the people'in Great Britain that there must be an all-round and progressivo improvement in wages and working conditions. The desire for far-reaching social reforms is notconfined'to the industrial population nor to the Labour >Party. It is nearer the truth to say that social reform now heads the working programme of all parties. In view, of the spirit now prevailing in Great Britain it is most unlikely .that there, will ba any refusal, except perhaps.'in isolated instances, to redress legitimate Labour griev-' anees or to satisfy just and reason- . able demands. At the same time, the conditions left by the war offer in inany ; -respects unexampled opportunities for industrial development and social betterment. ' The war imposed ",a heavy drain upon the man-power of the nation and upon its material resources, but it also in a wonderful degree stimulated and brought out its latent powers of organisation. A mighty industrial achievement had an essential place in the total effort that enabled Britain to win the' war. It at the fame time established her in a splendidly advantageous position from which to attack the problems of reconstruction and after-war development—a position from which she is in no danger of being dislodged Unless by the folly of those who have everything to gain by a policy of loyalty and co-operation. _ The'effcet of the war upon British industries was summed up the ,other day by Mri. Kellaway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions. It had led, he observed, to the establishment of new industries in the United Kingdom, and had immensely strengthened dozens of others. He" illustrated this general statement with some remarkable facts. In 1914 only.one British firm was producing magnetos. Its output in 1913-14 was 1514 magnetos of a simple type. Now' fourteen firms are producing 128,000 magnetos per annum, and the quality of the present British magneto is the highest in the world. It outclasses the latest example's of .German magnetos as weir as those : which were produced before the war. There has been an equally remarkable development in the manufacture of sparking plugs for motors. In 1914 the British output was not more than 5000. Last year 2,140,000 sparking plugs werc-produced in British factories,, and they rank as the best in the world. / . Wo lire mnking for ourselves, nnd even exporting (Mr. Kellawny stated}, very many more things which we used to import before the war. .■ During the war we regained control of many invaluable sources of raw material -which we had allowed to slip into the hands of Germany, and we shall retain that control. British industry is awake vow <ns never before, and is rapidly occupying fresh territory. -~ Tbafc matters should have been carried already to this point in spite of the extent to which Britain has been compelled since 1914 to concentrate itpoii purely war production for herself and her Allies is little short of marvellous. But all the prospects thus raised of a rapid expansion irt production and a corresponding improvement in industrial and social conditions are dependent and contingent upon the loyal (co-operation of the parties engaged in industry. If instead,of harmony and co-opera-tion there chronic strife tho wonderful stimulus and inspiration of the war will speedily evaporate. Britain obviously cannot hold the position of advantage* she has gained if her workers, or any large section of them, persist in dislocating industry by. irrational strikes. . .If there is to be tho progressive improvement in industrial and social conditions which all parties 'arc anxious to promote she must be in a position to compete effectively with other nations, andparticularly with Germany, who will strive desperately to recover what she has lost. The British workers are not - asked to limit their aspirations, but it is quite evident that the only policy by which they can hope to approach their goal is that making for the maximum efficiency of industry, and that the persistent dislocation of industry is bound to result in making progress impossible. There never was a time when the workers were faced by brighter prospects or better opportunities.' It is open to theni not only to secure a steady improvement in their own material prosperity, but to take a great part in control of industrial conditions which might do much to improve the lot of workers in less advanced countries and at the same time to eliminate unfair competition, ' But the British workers will not approach -such results otherwise than by orderly nffort and a resolute avoidance of such upheavals and disorders as arc now in prospect-in some of the most important industries of the United Kingdom.

Owing to tho late arrival of the Sydney steamer the Williamioti Musical Comedy Company, which was to have opened.at the Grand Opera House tonight will not appear until to-morrow evening. The management announce that intending patrons who cannot attend on Friday evening can have their money refunded on application at the Bristol, or can book for another night.