AFTER THE WAR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 272, 4 May 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

AFTER THE WAR.

CAPITAL AND LABOCR

•"Shall we be able to look forward to such peaceful relations between capital and labour after the war as will stimulate both employers and workers to cooperate energetically in adopting the improvements of scientific, mechanical, and business organisation needed for effective production? No simple, confident reply can be given to this question. The affirmative answer seems to mo to depend upon the successful solution of two problems, at first sight separate, but afterwards seen to be clof-olv related. "A prime need of the economic situation for the industrial world as a whole, and for this country, will be the iced of more saving—i.e., the application of a larger amount of productive ciergy to the making of roads, railvays, ships, machinery, buildings, and the rophcement everywhere of depleted stocks of materials. "If we saved 400 millions before tho war. we mint save at least 000 or even GOO million afterwards. On the face of things this does not seem impracticable. or particularly difficult, on tho cssumption that production goes on fully and smoothlv. For a strong stimulus to saving will be present in the shape of a high rate of interest, and the distribution of wealth will apparent Iv l>e favourable to tho process

MOIIE WAGES WANTED

"The workers will not consent to return after vhe war to steady and pacific co-operation with capital in a new era of progressive industry, unless they aro as-nred wages and other conditions of employment more favourable than prevailed before the war. The experiences of war time will have convinced both the workmen who have fought and those who have stayed at home that industry can afford a higher standard of wages.

'"lf the nation ha.; been ab]<> to afford the gigantic extravagances of this war, and, at the same time, to maintain tlie working classes at a higher level of consumption than liefore out of the current output of wealth (with six million men withdrawn from production), it will lx» idle to attempt to submit to a cuttingdown of standards 011 the plea that industry cannot support the higher rates. Anv doubt that mav exist upon this matter will be quicker re>olved bv the tirst attempt to impose ujion anv great organised trade a reduction of wage rates.

'TII order to rai>e the technique and organisation of our industry to a higher level, the workers must be got to see their own substantial gain from the enhanced productivity to which their labour is required to contribute. "The net result of this general analysis is that, if we are to escape becoming poorer after the war. we must become richer. Tlii.-> i> not the omntv truism it may at fir>t appear. It signifies in the first place that a mere return to the standard and volume of production of wealth before the war is impossible.

tut: ni:ci:>.vvi:v im.vohtiox. . ' Our supremo task must bo to devise -li m 111 i \\liieli,though lt>s acute in their a].|K'a! Mian those supplied liv the cmerifoiicv of war shall yet hj? adequate in j eae? to opt rat.- suetcs-fully in a care-fullv-ivformod organisation of lidustrv. in which lli> interests of all participants, capital, labour, ability, and tho consumer shall lie dulv represented. If these changes in our ii;<ln—trial arrangement; for producing and distributing wealth amount to a revoluton, betted this son of revolution than the other sort which history teaches us may follow war."