The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times,” FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1921, INCREASED PRODUCTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times,” FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1921, INCREASED PRODUCT ION .

Fou some time past it. has been clearly apparent that increased production is of paramount importance not only to the prosperity of the country,, but as a definite solution of the unemployment problem and his was emphasised in the speeches at a recent meeting of the British Higher Production Council. T-io gathering was attended both by controllers of industry and by representatives of industrial workers, all of whom must have been deeply impressed by the speeches of Mr Asquith, Mr .J, R. Civnes and Sir L. YVortliington-Evans. As a means towards the attainment of increased output, Mr Asquith suggested in broad terms co-operation, agree meat between employer and employed mi the adoption in some form or other of ;i collective bonus on collective output, and the elimination of distrust and mutual suspicion. In this connection, Sir L. Wortliington-Kvans mentioned that profit sharing had been tried, but in most eases the incentive was too remote. What u tis 'wanted was a more direct and immediate method of demonstrating in a practical way that the minimum wage for minimum work was not enough and that the workman deserved and should receive u further direct interest in the result of his labour so as to enlist, his energy in the success of the business itself. Undoubtedly the most valuable and encouraging contribution to the discussion was that by Mr J. R. Clynes. His views were frankly and courageously given, and were alike hopeful to the employers and encouraging to the workers, and calculated to promote a stern resolution on all sides to settle down to steady and hard work. Speaking of one argument put forward by the men that if they did less work there would be more for somebody else, Mr Clynes pointed out that this was entirely fallacious, as was proved by the actual experiences of the present year. All suffer when output is limited. While the defects in the present system could not be removed bv the reduction of wages, yet he was convinced that a changed spirit on the part of employers and employed would produce the desired result. Mr Clynes summed up the conclusion of the whole matter in these words, “I do not believe that wo can get anywhere near increased production until we increased good will” a statement which is as f ruthful as ii h practical At the same time, ii would appear, there is not any genuine ground for the lack of the good will referred to. As far as can be seen in both here in New Zealand and at Home, there is a. general desire on the part of the employer for industrial peace. The concessions made in the past are proof of it. But no sooner is one concession granted, than an extreme element within the fold of th,< employees starts a fresh demand, and to accentuate the trouble they do it at the pistol’s month as it were, and in a stand and deliver manner. . Lightning strikes and go slow methods are the penalties which Labour often seeks to impose if it does not get what it asks for immediately it demands, without reasonable pause for consideration. The procedure tends to produce the had feeling Mr Clynes speaks of. Fuel is added to the fire at times by the very unjust .way the public is frequently treated. Tn many of the strikes no thought is given of the public weal, and thousands of innocent people are made to suffer because of a thoughtless few engineering ni penalising strike. Labor conditions have advanced so much of late years, that it is evident the peak must he in sight, and Inn - ing won what they have, and holding it securely Labor should set about seeking any extra conditions it requires in a reasonable way. Tt is not now-a-dnys suffering undue hardship in sweating, nor in working conditions. Reforms

which might be necessary now s-ioitld he sought only through the proper legal channel. A reasonable spirit shown in that way will tend to Fie increase of good-will Mr Clynes pleads for, and Labor operating on such a basis will soon find increased production and employment coming its way. With the better understanding thereby resulting, industrial peace will mean permanent prosperity to employer and employee alike.

Tiik Chautauqua season which opened yesterday so successfully is a reminder of what is to be got out of the nmeni- . ties of life. Chautauqua provides some- j thing more than mere entertainment or amusement. There is the intellectual side to he enjoyed also, and Chautauqua eaters in a very agreeable way to that end. The information ami knowledge are supplied as it vcie in su-gar-coated doses, and it is pleasant to assimilate it, sandwiched in rfs it is between pleasing items of entertainment. The lecturers tell of all hind of subjects. They are often all too brief, but the discourses very often for manv folk lay the foundation for ft wider knowledge of the subjects dealt with and a desire to seek further information, if not to follow up the subject in n more comprehensive wav. Tn this way Chautauqua has its uplifting mission! Even as regards its lighter s ide of amusement, it brings to us something fresh and bright, and always varied in its character. Above all the entertainments are clean and are of the class specially suited for families. In this respect the form of entertainment does a great good, and must be an infl(fence for good. Tt proves too, that the public can he entertained cheerfully without a descent to coarseness or vulrarity. That is some achievement in thin age when vaudeville entertainments 1 SO often depart from what is clean and I wholesome. Chautauqua therefore piovides a very pleasant break in the year, ‘ and the success it is making in this j Dominion is akin to that in other counJ tries, where this form of international co-operative entertainment, as it might ,be termed, is flourishing. Chautauqua I is a good leaven, and it sets a standard and an example of what the people want I if they are catered for as they should he. Chautauqua needs no censorship to safeguard the morals of the public. On the contrary it is a morality entertainment- in itself, and is destined to have a great vogue. It is to he welcomed and supported because of the great good it is doing and the greater good it is capable of achieving.

Si.owi.y hut surely YVestland is finding its way into the minds of men, and becoming talked of by reason of its great possibilities. There was evidence of this on Wednesday when we published side by side, a couple of columns of reading matter giving the views of visiting pressmen who had accompanied the ’Ministerial party to the Coast and spent a day looking round here, before returning to home and duty at Christchurch. One of the writers devoted his pen to the mining industry, and the other to South YVestland—of‘which he had a fleeting visit front a scurrying motor car. In the same issue of outpaper was a reprint of the Chairman’s address to tho Empire Press Union at Wellington the niglit before, and he remarked that “the man behind the pen was the most powerful on earth,” because he had to do with the shaping of opinion, stating and restating tho truth as he found it. So we may conclude that the visiting pressmen to our own Coast have contributed their quota in helping lo advertise the district and make its potentialities better known. It is no slight contribution as a matter of publicity to have two columns of prominently placed reading matter about our own affairs in the daily morning papers oj Christchurch. The journals are widely read in the adjoining province and abroad, and the advertisement Westland receives thereby is substantial and far reaching. Both writers in the space available covered the ground very completely, and indicate the possibilities of the district in regard to lioth mining and pastoral pursuits. Tlie glimpses Mr Drummond gave of our scenic beauties can be well understood, for he is in person a nature lover, and what he saw for himself on that brief trip will no doubt form the basis of many a published note of this great stretch of natural wonderland in his future writings. It is to be expected that the articles we refer to will be read widely abroad, ;»nd they will play their part in attracting visitors to this Coast. The visitors will not come in vain. YY’cstiand can produce the goods. She will respond to the touch of capital -and the hand of labor. Westland awaits enterprise and development, and has a great future before him. -