The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1917. LABOR AND PRODUCTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1917. LABOR AND PRODUCTION.

ft may safely be asserted that at no previous period, in the 1 world's history bas there been such serious anil anxious consideration given to the question of labor .and production. There have been t'ai longer wars than that which is now raging in Europe, and there lmve jcen times of stress arising from other causes, but never lias the economic problem been so acute, or presented such grave difficulties, as is now the case; nor do we see how it could be otherwise. All we can hope is that some of the compensations of the fierce struggle will be to make [ the British Empire self-contained, tc eliminate as far as possible the. craving for luxurious living and selfish pleasures, and to create among all classes a closer bond of sympathy, together with a unii \ersnl aim to attain those ideals which alone make a nation great, independent, progressive and united. The foundation and superstructure of a nation's power is its intelligently directed labor and the exercise of its productive powers on the 1 ighest possible scale. These two essentials are so interwoven that they are | intcr-dependent, so that it is necessary, If the best results are to bo achieved, that there should be a direct incentive to the workers to produce the maximum in their power, not for enriching capitalists, but for the general welfare of the community. One of the great blots on the British system in the past has been the prodigious waste that was apparent in every direction, the extent of which is only now being fully realised. It is a significant commentary on this phase of the economic question that Laboi is Inking up an attitude which indicates practically the institution of a broader and more just policy towards the State and tho emergency it has to face. Tliei Yorkshire engineers have protested' against the number of untrained mcnl engaged in munition works and thereby escaping military service, and they threaten drastic action, though the Union of General Workers has protested against the further debadging of skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers. While these two protests appear to be rntagonistic to one another, it may bo tint tfcoy both emanate from the same de&iro to furthei the prosecution of the

war. In the direction of increased production bf foodstuffs the Workers National War Committee urges that wheat and oats be sown on land? previousiy dc-voted 10 barley foi brewing—a most emphatic: sign of the new departure of Labor in regard to alcoholic liquor—and demands that private park lands be cultivated before recreation grounds arc ploughed up. Far more important still is the action of the Food Controller, who ' i:- not only empowered to utilise vacant land, but can direct occupiers how to use their land to most advantage. The Scot ' ti;-h Beard of Agriculture is empowered vo slaughtei deer to prevent injury to crops and wastage to pastures, and those who preserve game must either shoot the pheasants to prevent them from raiding the crops or fanners will be empowered to dp so. This is probably the most drastic measure against the luxuries of the wealthy that was evei authorised, and those who remembci the troubles over the game laws years ago will almost stand aghast at this Wow against landed proprietors. At the same time it is a policy that will go a very long way towards reconciling the workers to make ihe sacrifices to which they ivere averse while the wealthy were allowed to revel '■ii their cherished privileges. The Empire has not only to face its exceptional needs, but has to be prepared for conditions arising after peace has been declared, and the millions of men on active service are demobilised at the rate of about five thousand daily. The question of finding employment for the demobilised men and munition workers is already being carefully and thoroughly considered, especially in view of the expansion of industries consequent on the determination to block enemy countries from trading in the Empire. It will be seen, therefore, that the connection between labor and production is very close, and that'the future holds out exceptional possibilities for still further solidifying and expanding the homogenity of the nation and removing most of the differences that have existed in the past, especially as such a successful and tactful organiser as Mr, Lloyd '"Jeorge is at the head of affairs. It may be assumed that after the war there will be a vastly accelerated and increased production of wealth, for with labor organised as it has beer for war, .vhieh is a non-productivL business, che volume of manufactures and industrial ouijut will be on an unprecedjnted scale. T.ie heretofore unused man and woman power will assist in utilising the undo vc'oped materia! resources of the Empire. There may, and probably will, be ii slight retrogression in wages in order to successfully compete,with foreigners, but there will be no monopolies to inflate prices. The experience of the wax- nas conveyed many useful lessons which should baar good fruit in the future, not the least of these being the elimination of unnecessaries, and the recognition of the value of concentrated energy. We have had to do without enemy supplies to which for many years wo had neon accustomed, and now there slioulc, be 110 difficulty in being absolutely independent of foreign goods of all descriptions. Her,.>e '.lie attractive prospect of increased production and the advancement of the we.I'&re of all classes. That labor will chiefly benefit, is only fitting, as Britis.i industrial and commercial expansion will be mainly due to labor's efforts.