The Dominion. THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1920. LABOUR LOOKING ABROAD

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 177, 22 April 1920, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1920. LABOUR LOOKING ABROAD

A promising) item of news which I appears to-day states that the executive of the British Labour { Party has issuod a manifesto drawing attention to tho economic paralysis which is creeping over Europe as a conßcquence of tne war, and urging tho Government to press for- such international action as may_ serve to avert a world-wide oconomic collapse. Tho suggestion conveyed is that some of tho'_ leaders of Labour in Great Britain, at least, are conscious of the need of a more enlightened attitude and outlook than are manifested in the current demands of many of its strongest industrial organisations. It is very plain, in any case, that Labour in Britain and elsewhere has everything to gain from a calm survoy of conditions at homo and abroad anci from basing , its policy on actualities instead of on the fascinating but irrational hope of olfoiining something for nothing. The ability of Labour to formulate and pursuo an intelligent policy raises at present a supremely urgent issue in most British countries. It is the great paradox of our time that while full power has been vested in the democracy to shape such conditions as will promote its welfare, much that passes for democratic action tends visibly and obviously to impede social betterment or make it impossible. The wage-earners who with their families have most to gain from orderly, constructive progress in national and industrial affairs aro precisely those who seem to be determined, taking their actions and demands as a guide, that such progress shall not even be approached. Economic paralysis is not confined to-day to tho ■ countries which suffered most heavily in tho war-de-vastation of Europe. It is more or less acutely in evidence in all countries in which "militant" Labour has become a power. In Britain, at the moment, the bearing and effect of the demands that aro being pressed by strong sections of organised Labour aro vividly apparent in light of the national stock-taking submitted in the Budget. These facts are the better worth considering sincc in essentials the situation disclosed in Great Britain exists in this country and in many others. In its most important aspect the Budget is a plain statement of tho only means by which tho nation can lighten the burdens it now carries and build sure foundations of future prosperity. The tremendous call made upon national resources is sufficiently indicated in the fact that tho_ estimated revenue to lie raised this year works out at more than £33 per head of population. No thinking human being needs to be told that the British people will only meet and continue to meet such demands by keying their economic organisation to the highest pitch of efficiency, 'and that if organised Labour persists in the policy—carried already to extraordinary lengths—of demanding an increased reward for a diminishing effort, tho result can only be to cripple the national energies and make successful reconstruction and the re-establish-ment of prosperity impossible. It is a familiar fact that even in tho case of strong unions- which contrive in some degree to 'exploit their fellow-workers, the benefit accruing to organised Labour from tho extreme inflation of money wages is slight. But there is no room for doubt about the extent to which industrial unrest and incessant demands for more wages paralyse or dislocate industry and limit production. Neither 'is it doubtful that the working masses aro ultimately the chief sufferers under such conditions of hampered and limited production. The wageearners of Great Britain could not . better promote their own interests I than by forwarding the groat na- ' tional effort for economy and increased production at which tho ' Budget aims and which it does much , to enforce. Smooth-working indns- . trial efficiency is needed in order that the national crcdit and financial stability may lie fully restored, ibiit it represents also tho only means i of lowering tho cost of living and i promoting social betterment in so far as this depends on material ; welfare. The position at present disclosed, however, is that while tho British Government in its Budget proposals is going_ to unexampled lengths in enforcing economy . and in attempting to organise a great national effort in reconßtruc- - tion, powcrftil_ bodies of organised Labour aro doing their utmost, by measures which limit production and incroaso working costs, to mako such an effort impossible. It is ob-

vious_ enough that such demands, superimposed upon those legitimately made in _the interests of national reconstruction, are better calculated to wreck and overthrow the fabric of British industry than to give "militant" Labour the conditions it desires. The breaking strain has so evidently been approached that it is possiblo to hope that the leaders of the British Labour Party, in urging that remedies should be sought for economic paralysis in Europe, are particularly mindful ot the parlous state to which the industries of their own country have boen reduced by such demands and agitations as figure in the cablegrams to-day.