LABOUR UNREST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 135, 3 March 1919, Page 5

LABOUR UNREST

FREE AND FRANK DISCUSSION OF ITS CAUSES STATEMENT BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE By Telegraph-Press. Association-Copyright (Eec. Marc li 2, midnight,) London, February 27. The Council on Industrial Unrest freely and frankly discussed the national industrial situation in the Central Hall, Westminster. All the speakers agreed that in order to remedy the ' unrest, housing schemes must be speeded up and profiteering, particularly in regard to household commodities aiid. food, must cease. Mr. It. S. Horno (Minister of Labour), who presided, said that unemployment was considerable, and the menace was growing. It was now 161 per cent., compared with 5J per cent, in 1914. Mr. Thomas, on Ijehalf of the Triple Alliance, said they wqre determined materially to shorten the hours. He was dissatisfied with the whole 6ystem of society, and demanded that the workers should become real partners in industry. The Alliance stood unalterably for State ownership of mines,, railways,- and means of inland and coastal transport. :'Profitcering, which was scandalous, was"the chief cause of unrest. The excess' profits tax had increased rather than diminished, Mr. Arthur Henderson moved the appointment of ft joint committee. Mr. Lloyd George, replying to the demand that the Government should ■utilise the national war factories, said that there was no use the Government undertaking the work merely to provide work. On that road lay bankruptcy. Reaction after the war, and increased cost of living, were temporary causes'of the unrest. The cost of necessities in a"workman's household would shortly fall by four shillings weekly. Other causes of unrest were the workers' determination to raise the standard of living, and to eliminate the spectre of. unemployment. The unrest itself -was preventing the restarting of machinery owing to lack of confidence. We must tighten up. industries in accordance with the lessons the war had taught ris.—Reuter..'