MEN AND MASTERS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13902, 29 November 1910, Page 7

MEN AND MASTERS.

GLOOMY OUTLOOK FOR THE SHIPBU LLDINu INDU6TRY.

United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, November 'J7. Presiding at a meeting of Richardson Westgarth and Company, Lord FurncES, chairman of the company, said that unless the men eo-onerated with their masters in maintaining industries, the want of employment would increase. Tho policy of taking the maximum or work at any price for the eolc purpose of working expenses would bring the shipping industry into commercial disrepute. What was wanted on tho North-east Coast was the creation of a united constructive policy at as largo a saving as possible. Hβ was aghast at tho prospect of tho aggressive continuance of tho present system.

Lord Ftirness, better known by his old title of Sir Christopher, introduced a co-partnership scheme into the shipbuilding works of Withy, Furness and Co., at Hartlepool. He told his men that the directors were so disgusted at the disorganisation of the business through sectional strikes, that they had serious thoughts of closing the works. He offered to sell tho business to tho trade unions, or to introduce a copartnership scheme, whereby the workers would become shareholders, on condition that they did not strike. The scheme was put into operation, and worked with satisfactory results to the company, but the men decided not to go on with it.