The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1920. HIGH WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 April 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1920. HIGH WAGES.

Now that the workers in Britain have ascertained their power, they are ceaselessly making up for the many years in the past when their wages were little more than a miserable pittance. The pace they are going in their demands for more, and still more, pay is assuming an alarming iphase, and it is evident they- arr>' Out'to obtain the utmost they can- tvring from the employers. A recent cable message stated that the largest trade unions are demanding further substantial increases, based on the increases to miners and dockers, so that the wages war gives no indication of abating. On the contrary, as fast as the men in one industry obtain better pay those engaged in other activities put in their elajm, and thus the ball is kept rolling at the expense of the community. It was only recently that the railwaymen's dispute was settled, whereby the men gained considerably. They are now demanding a further £1 per week on the ground that the Government has awarded the miners an additional two shillings per day and standardised the dockers wages at sixteen shillings a day. Such, a demand practically lays down the principle that the general rate of wages shall be based on the highest pay awarded to labor, for it is claimed that one industry cannot be separated from another in these days. The result of such a dictum can be better imagined than described, and cannot fail to lead to serious consequences. If the principle is accepted, which is unlikely, wages would not be fixed on a ratio of value of services performed, but on an arbitrary basis that Avork is work, and all work should be remunerated alike. The evolution of this method of paying for services rendered is a natural outcome of the principle that the. most efficient and speedy operators must take their time from the least efficient and slowest. Manifestly such a system would destroy all ambition to excel, and would reduce the workers to a dead level of mere time servers. It is unthinkable, with all the opportunities now open for advancement, that, intelligent and sane Labor should be a party to tactics so detrimental to their best interests. Manifestly there must be a limit beyond which employers cannot go, so that if that limit is passed industry will stop and the workers be rendered idle. The extent to which the extreme section of Labor is carrying its unreasonable attitude is evidenced by the recent action of the New South Wales Labor Council in declaring against profit sharing—not because it would give the workers more money, but on the ground that it would "result in a tremendous speeding up, and be

inimical to the working class interests. '' In the light of this pro : nouncement it is easy to see that there, is a widespread movement among what may be termed the easy-going men. to dictate Labor's policy in their own interest, not for the purpose of obtaining a square deal, but that they may do as little as possible and be paid the highest wages that the best men can earn. Such men have no ambition, and no hope of ever becoming employers, and their efforts are directed to preventing others from forging ahead. Tactics of this kind can only lead to Communism and anarchy—a danger which sane Labor cannot too strenuously combat. The ease of the Lancashire cotton spinners and card loom workers is on a somewhat difi'd"r.*!)t basis. Their wages have..ww very materially increased of i a te, hut the employers' profits, owing to the enormous rise in prices, have been so colossal that it is not surprising to find the workers putting in a claim for their share of the results of profiteering. They have refused the employers' offer of arbitration, and threaten that, unless their wages are increased a further sixty per cent., a ballot will be f&kert for a strike on May 1, affecting 400,000 operatives. The position is said to be the gravest for many years, and though the public may have to suffer if the strike takes place, it is fairly certain that sympathy will be on the side of the operatives. As the result of the millions made by the Coats' combine there has been mad speculation in cotton mills, for which large sums have been paid, and it is evident the workers are determined not to be exploited. The evil of profiteering has brought others in its train. It, might be thought that the British Government should have dealt drastically with this cotton profiteering, but Governments must raise all the revenue they can and it would seem to suit their purpose in this respect better to allow the evil and obtain: the super-tax, than study the interests of the long-sufferihg public, which always has to pay in the end. Now that the operatives have put up a fight for their share of the spoil, the extent of the danger of this course may dawn upon the Government and remedial measures lie forthcoming. Throughout the world this rmestion of Labor's share of profits is looming largely, affecting social, industrial and economic laws. No raising of wages will operate as a solution. The problem must be faced in all its aspects so that it may be solved in such a way as to limit profits to a reasonable amount, and only by so doing will production be increased and the workers' grievances met.