HARD TO RECONCILE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1920, Page 4

HARD TO RECONCILE.

Two cable messages which appeared in Friday's issue afford striking testimony of how difficult it is to reconcile the attitude of Labor with regard to production. The chief Labor organisations in Britain, appointed a committco to in' quire into the cost of living, and the interim report, which has just been made public, after attributing to inflated currency the main's cause of high prices, stresses the fact that the development of the world's productive capacity would ultimately result in a substantial fall in prices. This accords with the unanimous view of all economical experts, and certainly conveys a truth which is irrefutable. On the other hand, a message from Sydney states that the iron trades' employees have issued an appeal to the watersiders for assistance in the fight for the abolition of Saturday work. Thus is presented two sides of a vital question which is at the root of most of the unrest that is rampant at the present time. In face of the- imperative need for greater production, there is an organised endeavor to restrict the hours of labor, while strikes, threats of strikes, and goslow tactics are magnifying the evil of high prices. It is significant that a committee consisting of Labor members should, after mature consideration of all the facts, have been convinced that a substantial fall in prices can only follow increased production. The issue is perfectly plain, that Labor is not so much concerned witli a fall in prices as witli higher wages, less pay, and more power to dictate to the employers. Meanwhile the community suffers, and no effective remedy is in sight. The malcontents are not amenable to the dictates of reason, or, for that matter, dictates of any kind except such as proceed from themselves. It is an incomprehensible situation Wherein the substance is being sacrificed in reaching after the unattainable shadow. It is to be hoped this phase of industrial dementia will soon pass, for until it gives way to common sense the present evil must become more intense.