The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1915.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3984, 17 July 1915, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1915.

A Striking Difference in Methods.

There is a line object lesson to the - neutral nat-

ions in the matter ol the

differeiice in the methods adopted in Britain and in Germany in order to k cure an adequate output id munitions, coal and other essentials wherewith to prosecute their respective sides of the war. On the one hand it is found that Britain is relying solely on voluntary j labor. Tver since the war began labor disputes, too, have proceeded as merrily as hitherto. But nothing in the shape of labor conscription has even been officially hinted at. Only lately, indeed, have tho Home authorities deemed it advisable to take steps having for their object tho infliction of penalties in the case cd strikes without due notice and the new regulations, it: would seem, are -to apply merely to certain areas. ' .It should not be overlooked, however, that the continued discontent with conditions of employment and the rates of wages although very extensive in some branches of industry is not at all pronounced in other avenues of work. To their great credit the workers in some trades have, it may he stated, most willingly undertaken as much

overtime as has been found necessary and at rates ol pay that are m no - wav exorbitant. The only oilier redeeming feature about the troubles 1 and the difficulties that continue to be experienced is the whole hearted manner in which women and retired workers have stepped forward to assist in the important task ot developing various new industries ami increasing the output in connection with other linos of employment. In a nutshell, then, Britain is—as compared with Germany—i<> a event extent merely muddling along as boas this important aspect ol the conduct of the war is concerned. Ihe only possible explanation of the situation is that, as yet, the people as a whole, and the workers in particular, have- not awakened to the fact that

tin* fate of our great Empire is really at stake. As is woll'-known Britain has, despite the handicaps which have arisen, done remarkably well. There is probably no instance in history of any nation having done ,so mne.li in such a short period. Hut more must he done—and done without further serious delay. If the whole of the rosouroes of the Empire cannot at once he put to their fullest use sterner measures will have to be taken by the authorities. What must impress one and all is that no matter how unfair wages may be in some lines of business there is no excuse for hundreds of thousands of workers downing tools at such a, critical juncture even for a single hour. The brains of the nation, it must be the position, should be able to devise a system under which the workers in every branch of industry may rest assured that, sooner or later, they will be fully recouped for their work since the war began if it can be shown that such lias not boon the ease in any and every particular trade. Surely the workers of the Home Country can be relied upon to see to it—and the business people too—that nothing is allowed to transpire which will lead to anything in the direction of forced labor The Huns, it should be mentioned, do things quite differently from the manner in which they are domain Britain. As instancing the .Huns’ methods which nobody wo should say Aoukl like to see enforced in any British community, “ Eye-Witness' with the British Headquarters Staff in the western theatre recently said:—‘•The inhabitants of the territory in possession of the Germans are beginning to understand the meaning of occupation. In some places the Germans are having articles required for the troop,s manufactured at the local factories by the simple method of arresting the managers who refuse to undertake such work. In one case, where the employees struck as a reply to thp incarceration of their officials, some hundreds of workmen were themselves arrested and sentenced to a term of imprisonment, which was terminable only when they had signed a document saying that their return to work -was voluntary. In some cases the workman have been shut up in the factories and deprived of food until they agreed to continue working. In one town a notice states that the proprietors of any factory closing up .would bo fined £4O a day during the stoppage of work, and as punishment for strikes all inhabitants are forced to be indoors al 7 o’clock at night, with lights out at 7.30 o’clock.” As a writer in the latest number of the “Hound Table” remarks it is time the. British people settled down to a full realisation of the task before them. “Wo are/’ ho pointed out, “fighting a nation which is organised from top to bottom for war, ,which has thought out every problem in advance, and which is fighting under the inspiration of a single will to conquer at any cost. It will only be defeated if its

opponents submit themselves to the same discipline, and fit themselves by the same foresight and organisation to apply their whole national strength to the same end.”