BRITISH LABOUR TROUBLES.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 250, 21 October 1919, Page 7

BRITISH LABOUR TROUBLES.

CAUSES OF UNREST. VIEWS OF PUBLIC MEN. Njw that the British industrial upheaval, which has boon so long dreaded, has actually taken place, it is interesting to recall that, parly in August, in response to inquiries made by representatives of the London "Daily Chronicle." the following views on high prices and their relation to Lahour unrest were expressed by prominent public men: — Till-: FOOD rONTR.ni.KR. ■•There is no doubt that high prices, together with the contention that they are caused by what is called ' profiteerin?," have been a contributory cause of the present unrest in the industrial world. "At the t>nme time 1 think we are apt fo look at profiteering without a proper perspective. It is necessary that we I should remember that it is only one of the cause;. We are using every effort ,to eliminate it. but if we jzet ri.l of it j altogether we must not expect that Ipriees will fall to their old level. - At the present moment 00 per cent of our foodstuffs is controlled. JUlt the cost of production and transport lias pone up enormously, and tlie exchanges are goinp against us every day. " "Outside, the British Islands, America is almost our only source of supply, and every sovereign I send there to pay for food' is only worth 17/r>. ■'This in*what I have been trying to pet the workers of the country to understand. If production decreases, if poods available for export diminish, thc#e exchanges will continue to po against us. •• Men will cease work because they think they are entitled to better conditions of employment; production may be held np in consequence. But they must 'understand that every day they are idle ; will make the position worse, and be a j direct cause of makinp food dearer for themselves and their fellow-workers." BISHOP AYKI.T.noVS YIKW. Bishop Welldon. Dean of Durham, who deeply interested in social subjects, 'said it was difficult to estimate the j amount of profitccrinp diirinp the war. but all the signs seemed to indicate that ;a frrc-at many person* were financially I better o[T than ever before. Kveri the j working class itself did not scruple to I demand and accept higher wages in con ■I sequence of the war. I '• My belief." he added, "is that therr Ijhns been illegitimate profitcerinir union" '■•the manufacturers, who have taken ml- ' vantape of the opportunity the war has •j afforded to exact unduly high price* foi their products, but I think the suspieior of profiteering has pone beyond the facts " So long «s profiteering exists it wil he a cause provocative of unrest, and tin duty of the Government now is not t< profess but to practise economy in al the aspect.- of public life." WORKERS' ITJLY FEELTNO. Mr. Sam Roebuck, jun., general seere tary of the Yorkshire Miners' Associa tioii, seen at. I'.arnslev, said:—"Then is no doubt there is a real and ugly feel inp amonpst workers thnt they are bein; ' grossly and criminally exploited in norm •I way. anil that the (Jovprnment, up t< I j now, has been absolutely impotent ii ' dealing with this grave master. ' '• What the worker realises is that n< ' matter how successful he may h> ' i through the power of his organisation t< "j force up wages, he is always left lament " ably behind the leyi>l of the increase< <ost of In ing. The statements mat! J from time to time by the Press generall; Mas to the hup , profits made in shipping I 1 roal, steel, iron, wiollen und other fftll • rics, ami also in all kinds of food-tu(T< " amount to a positive scandal. After al' t the few coins or few pieces of pape 1 I the worker receives for work performe "jure not his real wapes, his real wape 1 being what these counters will exdiang for in the open markets, and ill the p> ■chamre lie limls that his real wape; ''I whilst nominally they have been ir ' I creased from time to time, have in efTei ' i been substantially reduced, and he feel 1 that this m largely, if not nltogptbe: ' due to profiteering, which is rampant 1 f every industry." t "LA'BOrR DEEPLY TNTKXSKT)." Mr. Arthur (Jill, a prominent Leerl Labour leader, said:—" Profiteering i the cause of the preatest part of Labon unrest, and unless this matter is take in hand nnd dealt with, we are in for f very grave and serious state of affair; r Horiusps and increased wages to workei i> are nil rendered minatory, and T lcno r tl at Labour as a whole is deeply incense ,1 airainst. the profiteer. nespite muc i, higher wages. tie averacre worker, owin ~ in payinir through the nose for necese t ties, is much worse ofT."