Is Increased Production Desirable ?

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1922, Page 4

Is Increased Production Desirable ?

LABOUR LEADER’S VIEWS. The above question is one which lias been much discussed by Labour men in New Zealand, and it will therefore be of interest to know what are the views held by lending Labour men in the old country. We present here the Opinions expressed by a number of these Labour leader's whose names arc a .sufficient guarantee of their standing.

Ernest Bovin (Dock workers’ representative) :—“Deliberate reduction of output, or not rendering proper service, is a mistake. Jf Labour came into power and hoped to be successful we should have to call for greater service from the community, not less.” C. W. Bowerman, ALP. (Secretary Labour Parliamentary Committee). —- “The point on which we must concentrate is increased output and continued production.”

J. T. Brownlee, (Letter to Trades’ Union Congress).— “The Trade Union movement is more powerful- to-day than at any period of its history. With power comes responsibilities. . . The economic situation of this country and of Europe is very grave, and it appears to me that responsible Trade Union representatives must do something to alleviate the situation. The mere raising of nominal wages, without an increased production in the necessaries of life, is no solution of the difficulty.” ■

J. R. Clynes, ALP. (Speaking at Oxford in August 1919, Air Clynes said :—“The workers can make no more lamentable mistake than to encourage under production. . . Workmen who deliberately restrict output, or who fail to accept any form of in'dustrial development which could make their labour more productive, are. punishing: their class without knowing it, and they are imitating the profiteer who thinks only of himself. Ca’ canny is an ignorant act which deprives many people of their real needs. . . It visits the greatest loss upon pool' people with low wages.” Philip Snowden.—Dealing with the question of over-production which excites the fears of so many manual workers. Air Snowden says:—Bad trade has been due in the past to the excess of goods in the world-market over demand. The limitation of demand has risen from the inadequate means at the command of the great mass of the people. What has been called "over-production” was in reality under consumption. At the present time the world is suffering not from over production, but ironi lessened production.” “The Economic reconstruction of the world after five years of devastation can only be achieved by iucreasiiiir the volume of commodities. An increase of wages, if accompanied by

a reduction of output, increases prices.” C. H. Stuart Humbug President Trades I'nion Congress;.—"The world is five years behind, the wastage must be repaired, the lost time made up, ami so there must he an increase of productivity. . . . Let it be clearly understood that increased output can only-be obtained by t lie co-operation of employers and employed, and that we are uilling to do our share.” .1. 11. Thomas, At.l’.—Speaking _at Derby in condemnation of the “Work lo Pule Strike” on Alav 2nd, 1920, Air Thomas said that people sympathised towards the aims of Labour and willing to support a sound Labour policy, asked themselves—" Ts democracy majority rule f The obvious answer of a method such as 'work to rule’ is that it is riot. The Executive Committee has not sanctioned this ‘go-slow’ pul icy, and il its members do not reflect your views, get rid of them, if you do not trust them choose others. But in any ease choose between anarchy and democracy.”

“The first to suffer from such a policy are the workers themselves. It is tlie one certain method of increasing the cost of living. It is nothing short , f a war on the community and lips all tiic elements of gas poisoning.” "Tiie ‘working lo rule’ or the ‘slow-

gear' movement is licit only unfair to the community, but also weakens the railwaviueli’s organisation. .. . The

‘work to rule’ movement not only does not help the workers, but it docs them an incalculable amount of harm.” lien Tillett, M.IL—In support of Mr .1. T. Brownl'c’s call for increased production, -Mr Hen Tillett said that, if all classes helped, production could lie increased 100 per cent. “If Labour must fight, let it at least have the s use to light on a full stomach. By their present policy the workers will starve before llicv can seriously start.

Herbert Hoover (quoted by J. 3'Brnwnße).—“Unless production can bo readily increased there can be nothing but political, moral and economic chaos, finally interrupting itself in loss of life on a scale hitherto undreamt of. No economic policy will bring tood to these stomachs or fuel to these hearths which does not secure the maximum production. There is no use in tears ever rising nriecs. They are 'o a groa* degree a "visualisation of decreasing production. (Contributed by N.Z. Welfare League).