INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17989, 16 July 1920, Page 2

INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS

POSITION IN BRITAIN. MB J. S. BOSS'S VIEWS.

(Fbom Oon Own Corhk3pondent.) AUCKLAND, July 14. Some interesting observations regarding industrial conditions in Britain were made by Mr J. S. Ross, of Ross and Gle.ndining, who Arrived by tho Ruahine to-day, after residing- in tho Old Country for 15 years. On being interviewed, lie said there was in unprecedented and unsatisfied demand for British manufactures. The fact is, ho said, that the workers are not producing tnough, and it would appear that they aro I'arryiug- out a policy of "go slow." This was detrimentally affecting British commercial relations with other countries. Notwithstanding that wages had increased considerably .-is compared with pre-war standards, it had not resulted in an increase in production, and suoh a thing as giving value for value apparently had been lost, sight of. Lack of production really was keeping up prices, and, incidentally, the policy in operation was tho means of inflicting certain hardships upon tho community. During the war the public spent money lavishly, said Mr Ross, but with the now order of things confronting them they have had to curtail their expenditure considerably. Luxuries which during the war were in constant demand are to-day in little dema,nd. Before it was a common thing to see whole families living in most wretched tenemento, but with the numbers of men going away on active service the housing problem in Britain wag considerably relieved. Many of those at Home were able to secure homes which enabled them to Jive in greater comfort than hitherto. Added to this was tho abnormal increase in their oarning power- This apparent prosperity enabled them to indulge in luxuries previously never thought of. But a change, consequent upon the restoration of peace and revised economic conditions, had shown the masses that they cannot continue to spend their money on the scale of the war period, and, being loth to part with their living comforts, they have perforce eliminated many things formerly included in their weekly expenditure. Among the things dispensed with aro periodical restaurant parties- During tho war it was wellnigh impossible to get a seat in a. restaurant, but now, even in the most busy centres, those were procurable without any difficulty. Discussing the prices for raw material for softgoods, Mr R-oss said that wool when he left Britain had started to come down gradually. This was largely due to the heavy stocks held by the Imperial Government being liberated. As a matter of fact, he said, this wool in Britain to-day is bound to affect the prices for next season's dominion wool olip. Mr Ross expressed _ satisfaction at the amount of manufacturing going on in this country. He said that New Zealand could supply her own requirements in many respects. She had the raw materials necessary for the manufacture of goods which were at present being imported. Referring to tho future prices for foodstuffs, Mr Ross said that there was certain to be a shortage for years to come, and this shortage was bound to cause prices to soar high.