BRITISH LABOR TROUBLES.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1210, 3 December 1919, Page 3

BRITISH LABOR TROUBLES.

CAUSES OF UNREST. VIEWS OF PUBLIC MEN. New that the British industrial upheaval, which has been 50 long dreaded, has actually taken place, it is interesting to recall thai, early an August, in response to inquiries made by representatives of the London ' Daily Chronicle,' the following views on high prices and their relation to Labor unrest were expressed hy prominent public men : THE FOOD CONTROLLER. " There i.-> no doubt tliat high prices, together with the contention that they are caused by what is called ' profiteering,' have been (t contributory cause of thi present unrest in the industrial world. At the same time, I think we are apt to look at profiteering without a proper perspective. It is necessary that we should remember that it is only one of the causes. We are using every effort to eliminate it; but if we get rid of it altogether we must not expect that prices will fall to their old level. At the present moment 90 per cent, of our foodstuffs is controlled. But lho cost of production and transport has pone up enormously, and the exchanges ■uc going against us every day. Outside the British Islands, America is almost our only source of supply, (and even' sovereign I send there to pay for food is only worth 17s 6(1. This i.s what I have been trying '.'• get the workers of the country ±0 understand. It production decreases, it ,;oods available for export diminish, these exchanges will continue to .go agairfet us. Men will cc-aso work because they think they are entitled to better conditions of employment-. Production may bo held up in consequence. But "they must understand that ecery day they are idle will make the position worse, and be a direct cause of making food dearer for themselves and their fellow-workers."' BISHOP WELL-DON'S VIEW.

Bishop Weiiuon, Dean of Durham, v.h A is deeply interested in social subjects said it was difficult to estimate the amount ot' profiteering during the war, but all the signs seemed to indicate that it great many persons were financially better off than ever before. Even the working class iteelf did not scruple to demand and accept higher wages in consequence of the war. "My belief,'' he added, "is that there has been illegitimate profiteering among the manufacturers, who have taken advantage of the opportunity the war lias afforded to exact unduly "high prices for their products; but T think the suspicion ot profiteering ha* gone beyond tho facts. So long as profiteering exists it will be a cause provocative of unrest, and the duty ■ t the Government now is not to profess but to practise evonomy in all the aspects of public life." WORKERS' UGLY FEELING. Mr Sam Roebuck, Jan., general scerutarv ot the Yorkshire Miners' Association. r.-en at Bamsky, said: " The;,, is ik, doubt tit,-; • i.-- .1 real and ugly feeling amoii2st workers that they are- being grossiv nnti exploited it; so:n.wa\ , and tliat tho Govermiuiii- up to now have been >bs»!utely impotent in dealing -.vkli thi> grave matter. What, tho worker leaiises U tihat, no matter how success!!-.; ho may bo tLrough tho power of his or-

ganisation to foroo up wages, he is always left lamentably 'behind the level of the increased cost of living. The statements made from itime to lime by tho Press generally as to tn« huge profits made iii .••hipping, coal, steel, iron, woollen ami other fabrics, and also in all kinds of foodstuffs, amount to a positive scandal. After all, tho few coins or few pieces of paper the worker receives for work performed are not, his real wages, his real wages- being what these counter* will ex change for l in the open markets; and in tho exchange ho finds that his real wages, whilst nominally they have been increased from time to time, have in effect been .substantially reduced, and ho feels that this is largely, if not altogether, due to profiteering, which is rampant in every industry." •LABOR DEEPLY IMJEXSED." Mr Arthur Gill, n prominent Leeds Labor leader, .snid: " Profiteering is tho cause of the greatest part of Labcr unrest, and auiless this matter is taken in hand and dealt with wo are in for a very grave and serious state of affairs. Bonuses and increased wages to workers are all Tendered nugatory, and I know that Labor as a whole is deeply incensed against the profiteer. Despite much higher wages. tho average worker, owing to paying through the nose for necessities, is much worse off.*'