"EACH FOR ALL"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 138, 6 March 1919, Page 8

"EACH FOR ALL"

Sir.—l read with pleasure your article in- last Monday's Dominion, which was headed as above. There is no doubt that Sir Andrew Hussell struck the right note when lie advised his men to work "each for all." That is the only means by which an army or a State can ultimately attain success. I have read and reread your article, and have come to the conclusion that you have missed the main point: that is, education. An army is brought together and educated, trained, and disciplined into mutual support and self-sacrifice until it becomes "second nature" for them to work each for nil. Consequently they win through and Rain the victory. In civil life we do liot net that education and discipline, but just the contrary. \ We are taught now that the right thine is "each 0110 for himself and the devil take the last." No one can deny that this is an age of intense selfishness, brought about by our educational system; and it has brought 0:1 us this awful war and all the social troubles we are passing through; and until we learn the art of eelf-sacrifice there will be 110 peace in the ~orld. The following passage 111 your article is duite as worthy of being, committed to memory as Sir Andrew Russell's advico to his troops, viz.:— If national interests are flouted or ignored 110 class interests will be advanced. or, at all events, will be advanced for long."

That is a truism that we should all take to heart, and act upon; but I am afraid it is all far too millennial for the present day. It'has taken us 2000 years to get into the awful mess we are in to-day through taking a by-road, which has led us to confusion and discord; and we nre not going to get back 011 the "right road" in 0110 generation. To quoto a truth from your article again:

• In civil life, just as.truly as in war, men are confronted by problems which it is the common interest to solve, and which can only be solved if all loyally combine their efforts. This cardinal truth is being perversely ignored to-day by great sections of the population in Great Britain, and already great loss to the wholo nation has resulted.

That, Sir, is all quite true, but it does not apply only to Groat Britain. The same conditions obtain all over the civilised world. Our systemof education and competition, has converted the wageearner into a mere machine, that is not supposed to have brains, likes or dislikes; the object is (o Ret as much work out of him as possible and give as little as possible in return. Our competitive system compels that competition may be the life of trade, but it is the death of the individual. That being the case, howcan we expect the wage-earners (o "loyally combine their efforts", when they have no interest whatever in the business except to, receive their wages They, like the employer, wrongly imagine that their best interests lie in getting as much out of him as possible in wages, and get as little work as possible in return. "What is sauce'for the goose is sauce for the gander,"- but the sauce is poisonous, and will kill both if enough is taken. The only solution that I can see is for the labourer to have a share in the business he works; then there will be no "go slow" or stfikes, as they would be going against their own interests. All then would "loyally combine their efforts," and the thing would go along smoothly and without and squeaking for want of urease.. labour and Capital are like two knights tilting in opposite directions. One or both l.iust fall unless they can be brought to t;ee that there are two sides to the shield. You speak, Sir, of "even-handed justice." Was there, then, ever such a thing in this world ? I am afraid not. Justice is what we have all been seeking £iom the dawn of time, and it has not been found yet. When we understand and administer "even-handed justice," there will be peace in the world, and not strife. I often think, when-Matthew Arnold wrote the poem "Devolutions," justice was the word he had in his mind. I quote the last verse:— "One day, thou sayest, there .will at last appear, The word, the order, which God meant should be; Ah! we shall know that well when it •comes near; •' The band'will quit man's heart; he will breathe free." Ton speak, Sir, of this ljeing a "democratic country." I tnke strong exception to the term being used with regard to the British Empire or .'any part thereof. So long as we are coating an aristocratic class such as dukes, lords, knWits, etc., how can.we he a democratic people? —I am, etc., JUNIUS 1919. j