OBSERVATIONS ABROAD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 269, 9 August 1919, Page 8

OBSERVATIONS ABROAD

INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS JN EUROPE. Mr. J. B. Clarkson, of this city,'who has just returned/from a visit to America, England, France and Italy, has some interesting things to say concerning industrial conditions in tho countries visited. After visiting somo of the battlefields of Prance he went on to Turin, in Italy, whero the manufacturers were pre-" paring for the big industrial struggle that was coming—everywhere, Mr. ClarkRon noted wages were three times higher than they ever, had been in Italy, but the cost of living had risen common-, surately. The Army of Italy was being 4 disbanded rather later than the other Allies, and there was tho samo' combative spirit of unrest noticeable thero us elsewhere. As far aB Italy was concern* ed she was. in an unfavourable condition to couipeto commercially, in our lino at all events, owing to' wages being just as high as in other countries, irnd perhaps more important still, she was dependent on England and America.for her* coal supplies. Manufacturers were doing fairly well, but were not prepared for export business' yet. ' Franco was a little farther ahead and had a forward.programme, but the trial unrest was pretty well tho same- a* in England, though the French soldier was not being: so spoon-fed as tho British "Tommy." Although in. England tho wages were very high, tho workers, with a knowledge of tho profits made in tho. past, had not quite mado up their minds what share of such profits should bs theirs in the future, nor bad they auito decided how much work should be given for the high wages being paid them. So that commercially England wns in a state of flux. Workers were receiving higher vrngos than they had ever drawn in their lives, and their output was from 40 to 50 per cent, lower than it was ii) ML Even 6ix months after the wai! girls who had been engaged in the manufacture of munitions were still 'ablo to command 355. a week, and they did not look like rushing back to their old jo.W at a lower rate of pay. At the Labour 1 Bureaux one could seo men waiting in rows, but they would not take the first job offering. They were there rather to pick and choose. Mr. Clarkson is of opinion that another general election will ensuo in Enplnnrl boforo long. Tho manufacturers, had big progressive, programmes, but they were stultified by Hie attitude of Labour, consequent upon everybody havimr more money than they had lwen accustomed to in the past. The factories and workshops' could sell all llie'r products- at double tho prices formerly obtaining, so were lint looking for export trade at present. France and Italy, and even America wer.i in the same position. Thev could soil nil thev could nroduco locally. ; Although in America they had not been'under tho same stress as the British .worker, them wns the snme unrest due to many 1,,,.,,!-/),-!, of- thousands of soldiers returnr~ Inne. .