PROFIT-SHARING AND NATIONALISATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1919, Page 4

PROFIT-SHARING AND NATIONALISATION.

The opposition of Labor leaders in Britain toi the co-partnership schemes such as that; instituted by Lever Bros., throws a strong light on the real aim of those whose business it is to dominate the policy of the workers. A recent cable states that the attempt of the Carpenters' and Joiners' Union to wreck Lever's scheme is likely to precipitate the general question of the trade union attitude towards profit-sharing. The main ground for this antipathy appears to be that profit-shar-ing interferes with the aim of Labor to bring about complete nationalisation. This attitude implies that the Labor leaders arc not so much concerned with the welfare of the workers as they are with their own interests. Obviously pro-fit-sharing is viewed by them as an evil to he eliminated, because if it were generally adopted there would be an end to unionism, and the occupation of those who live on their fellow men would be gone. Nationalisation, on the other hand, fits into their scheme of life perfectly, for it means constantly turning the pressure screw, and keeping up agitation, which to them is the breath of life. The Unions admit that the workers, under co-partnership, achieve a differ' ent economic basis from others, nor could they do otherwise, for it is the only way in which they have a direct incentive for giving of their best and receiving a just reward for their work'. Moreover, with profit-sharing, the employees are in a position to make suggestions for improved methods of saving labor and increasing production, while all grievances can easily be adjusted. No better scheme for securing industrial peace and advancing the welfare of workers can be devised than profit-sharing, where conditions permit of its adoption. The Unions, however, regard the system as furthering privately-controlled industry as against Labor's aim of complete nationalisation, and it would seem that the trade unions are acting unwisely in opposing profit-sharing, especially on such questionable grounds as those which have been put forward. Prom their point of view the ideal of nationalisation means control of the Cabinet by the Trade Union Congress, but to the rest of the community it means scrapping the Constitution. Action of this kind will do much to alienate the sympathy of the public from unionism, and tend to stamp Labor aims as dominated by the doctrine of force and not of justice.