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Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1922, Page 2

The British political crisis was evidently largely a newspaper feature, ra.thiv than an actual fact. The parliamentary leaders have all spoken and have displayed the fullest confidence in the leadership of Mr Lloyd George—and well they might. His authority and influence, not only in British politics, hut a.lsd in world politics, stamps him as the only possible leader. His latest speech to his own immediate; following—the Coalition Liberals—shows the goal lie has in mind- world reconstruction and peace. The coining Genoa. Conference aims at this great ideal. Mr Lloyd George realises what reconstruction means in ensuring peace. Ability to secure international trade and intercourse as a means to meet indebtedness, is of paramount importance, and with his singular prescience in grasping outstanding facts and pushing them home to his hearers, again marks the special value of his latest speech—and his great objective. The leaders of the component parties constituting the Coalition Government have tributed Mr Lloyd George’s ability to the highest. Praise from such intimate colleagues who hold divergent views in regard to party issues, is j

praise indeed. It is pleasant to have such generous testimony, for it shows at once that the press reports of an internal crisis in the Government were quite beyond the mark. Britain has a difficult task ahead of her to retrieve the financial position, hut with such a. disturbing factor as the Irish question well out of the way, the task is easier, and with courage and confidence under the wise leadership ef Mr Lloyd George much will bo accomplished.

To assist Britain to retrieve her financial fortunes there is not any more important matter for the country from the national point of view than produo- j tion. But we are told on all sides that the groat manufacturing country' is suffering from industrial fatigue and there is a lack of efficiency. The subject is being fully ventilated at Homo from all points of view, but no definito panacea has been reached as yet. Healing with the causes of output limitation, one English writer states that the chief cause is the fact that work means effort j and man is naturally prone to avoid un- ; necessary effort. “Without a stimulus of some sort few men, if any would do any 1 work at a 11 .,; It is clear, however, I that there is no infallible remedy to overcome output restruction but “an important measure lies in the better ’ education of the indnstial workers, and especially of 'their trade union officials. If once thepe pipp in authority

can thoroughly grasp the economic fallacy of output restriction, they will do all they can to reduce it. However, the working man will be difficult to persuade unless a more sympathetic spirit springs up betweefn him and his employer. He should learn that it is equally to his own interest, to that of the employer, and that of the general public, that all restrictive customs be j abolished. A real spirit of sympathy can be established only when labour obtains a mud) greater share in management and control than it possesses at present. The recent introduction of joint industrial councils and works oom- , mite© is (considers the writer) a, hopeful step in this direction.” But the matter is of the highest moment to the national welfare. It is part of the great scheme of reconstruction which is to be discussed at the Genoa Conference next month when it it is not unlikely Mr Lloyd George will come down with some radical proposals. But what ever the scheme, there must be work, more work and still more work behind it. Industrial fatigue must pass, and greater efficiency must he shown. Efficiency can he improved hv personal interest and application. Too often the workman is bent on watching the dock, or dodging it—the very worst example of industrial fatigue. This spirit needs eradicating to he replaced by honest effort and earnest endeavour, the royal road to efficiency and the abandonment of industrial fatigue which would ruin any undertaking.