LABOUR TROUBLES

Taihape Daily Times, 19 March 1919, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES

CAPITAL AND LABOUR. —o PRESENT-DAY PROBLEMS. LLOYD GEORGE’S ADVICE. JUSTICE TO; ALL CLASSES. LONDON, March 0. Addressing the first session of the Industrial Joint Committee of Employers and Employed, which was constituted at the Industrial Conference on February 27, and which was hold privately yesterday morning, the Prime Minister said that he was returning to Paris to the Peace Conference that afternoon, but thought it important to come and say a few words to them, who were also sitting at a peace coufoi i ace which was more important for the future than perhaps they realised. Russia had gone to pieces, and he was sorry to say that the symptoms wore that Germany was also going to pieces. There was in Germany a lack of cohesion of ideas regarding the way the country was going to march. He 'would not be surprised if Britain had again to save civilisation in more ways than one. The committee’s task was to settle the peace of the country, but they were doing more—they were setting up a model of civilisation for the rest of the world. Let them approach their labour in that spirit, or civilisation might bo shattered ho atoms. It could only be saved by the triumph of justice and fair play to .all classes. TAKING THE LONG VIEW. The Prime Minister urged that they should not try to got advantages over each other. They were not advocates, but judges for the whole nation, which locked to them to save the State. Ho .advised employers not to seek temporary advantages which might finally ruin them, but to take the long view and see that the foundations, which in some places were rotten, were underpinned and made secure. He pointed out to the -workers that what was happening in Russia, and might happen in Germany, showed that they were the class which anarchy suited least, and that when they seemed to bo triumphing most they wore really, except perhaps a favoured few, suffering the most dreadful sorrows. They must see, said Mr Lloyd George, that the stream of prosperity irrigated the wholo land. It was a mistake to keep men working longer than was absolutely necessary, but at the same time two things must be borne in mind, namely, foreign competition and the need ;of productivity for a community of 45,000.000. Therefore it was necessary to find a legitimate boundary, just as the Paris Peace Conference was trying to fix the boundaries of Europe. They must use common sense, and get a lino that would meet the justice of their

cause,

EVILS OF UNEMPLOYMENT

Referring to unemployment, the Prime Minister emphasised that while to the employer unemployment meant only a loss of profits and mental worry, to the worker it meant personal suffering, and the still greater sorrow of seeing his family starving. Only those who had lived among the working classes could appreciate these horrors, which must be banished. They must devise some scheme by which, when unemployment came, it would be impossible for distress and famine to haunt the homes of honest people who were only seeking work. Even a criminal sentenced to hard labour was fed, and it was unjust and unfair that a man seeking work should be deprived of food. SUSPICION MUST CEASE.

In conclusion, Mr Lloyd George emphasised that the prosperity of the country depended upon increasing its productivity, and the heavy charges on the State lowing to the war, by which the national debt had reached £8,000,000,000, must be met by increased productivity. Ho urged employers and employed freely to exchange views, to nave a quiet talk, and to demise an understanding. It was hard to get suspicion against the employers out of the minds of the workers, but they must make the worker i mvistand that the greater the productivity of the country the greater would be his and the employer’s prosperity. Let them see that sunshine entered the workman’s cottage as well as the emj.’y, cr’s mansion. (Cheers.)

LABOUR BEFORE THE KING SOLVING THE LABOUR PROBLEM Received 9.5. NB WYORK, March 14. The Timesf London correspondent states that R. Toothill, a Labour member of Parliament had an interview with King George, wherein he suggested that the old steady employees of any firm should be entitled to enter the hoard room for the purpose of discussing any grievance with the directors, instead of depending upon the appointment of representatives. Mr. Toothill thinks if this plan w'ere

adopted it would eliminate many cases of friction between employees and employers. The King did not comment, but merely listened.

A JOURNAL’S FORECAST. COALMINES WILL BE NATIONALISED. Received 9.35 ONDON, March 18. The Daily Chronicle’s forecast re the Coal Commission, recommends national control, an eight . hours day from bank to bank, and probably a 10 per cent increase in wages. THE QUEEN SHOCKED AT HOUSING CONDITIONS ——o Received 9.35 LONDON, March IS. The Queen is displaying the keenest interest in housing conditions. Her Majesty walked through the poorer streets of Bethnal Green, and paid surprise visits. She was shocked to find a family of eight living in two roms.

BRITAIN’S LABOUR UPHEAVAL,

RAILWAY POSITION CRITICAL,

LONDON, Nareh 17

'The Railway Union’s Exceutivie conferred with the companies to-day, but adjourned, till Wednesday. It is understood. Ihe position is rather worse, but it is believed the chief companies are likely to make a further offer. The chief danger lies in the extremists’ efforts to force a crisis this week, whereas extension of time might product? an agreement.