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Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1922, Page 2

That capable labor leader, Mr J. R. dynes who is president of the National Union of General Workers has been addressing his comrades. In the course of his remarks Air dynes uttered several economic axioms, which falling from his lips should result in good fruit as times goes on. He spoke first of all of the serious weaknesses in the internal economy of l lie trades union organisation arising out of the conflict ir degrees of leadership within the unions. Men anxious for place and power had done serious mischief by their desire to help themselves first Indore their comrades. Speaking on the economic breakdown, he said it was due to the timidity and ignorance of the relative state of peace to trade. Rival military alliances did nop conduce either to peace or trade— for the one really governed the other. The weapon of the strike like the effect of niilitaiy alliances which made for war, resulted in under production, which in the first instance reacted on the poor, and in the second place gave the opportunity 'to the profiteer. ‘•Under-production,” dogmatically (included Mr Clynes, ‘•had afforded no protection to the ,voi • kers.” In that axiomatic declaration Mr Clvncs struck at n fundamental principle affecting the cost of living and the viril it.v of trade. There is no doubt the shortage of employment is due largely to the under production, contributed to as it is by the high cost of production. chargeable to different causes, of course, but mainly to the indifference and unsdttlement of the workers : to their methods of enforcing demands ; and to the lack of spirit (to the timidity and ignorance Mr dynes mentioned) to realise their obligations to help produeltion and not retard it. Tt is well to have these common facts brought home by one who has authority to speak to the workers from a platform they have themselves created. Mr Clvnes’ opinions will no doubt receive serious attention.

Tn the ofd days it was believed that. a. person’s character and destiny were irrevocably determined by the position of the planets at the time of his birth. Autolycus, for instance, who was “littered under Arercury,” the patron of thieves was preordained to he a “picker up of unconsidered trifles.” AYe in on’wisdom, savs a reviewer, had discarded the sunerstition, hut it appears that there is something in it. after all. An English investigator, Mr Cyril Hurt, lias pronounced the theory that hoy;: horn in the spring arc on the average, slightly less intelligent than those born in other months. Tests of a different kind conducted in the American nrmv seemed to sunnort this conclusion. Tn a recent mihjlicntion. “The Incidence of Intelligence.” Mr AT.. M’C. Furgrievo describes the result q| a series of experiments of a. similar character. Ho applied the American tests to a number of British bovs, and found that the response to these tests verified Air Burt’s theory. Certainly the layman may feel surprised at the proposition. Sprint is tlirv burgeoning time, the season, whop animate nature renews itself, the per« jod of vigouv and Tit-nitty, O'io v-vgM-

suppose that spring children are, if, any thing, superior to their follows. Those who hove had the comparative misfortune to ho born in spring can console themselves with the thought that this theory cannot he taken as conclusively established until tests have been made in many thousands of cases, and'over a long period-of years. Mr Burt’s tests were applied to only 192 boys', and Mr Furgrieve’s to only 3(58. However, if later investigation bears out their contention’ the old nursery iinele beginning Monday’s child is fair of face; Tuesday’s child is ft:»l of grace, will acquire fresh significance.