YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3174, 27 August 1917, Page 8

YORKSHIRE LETTER

WHAT OP THE FUTURE?

(From Our Special Correspondent.) Bradford, Juno 21. This is practically a closed hook, but • no ono can refrain from exercising their minds as to what is likely to Happen when , and alter the war is over. Everybody in tho trade," from the smallest to the great- , est, is loyal to the principles which aro ut stake, but the methods which are being •adopted are certainly in some respects open, to criticism. It is to bo regretted that though men of extensive practicaL experience have been called in to play their ■part in the 6chemo of-State control, they •do not possess sufficient pfover to bo able to make their influence felt to any very great extent. They seem to be compelled .largely to look on, and watch events move iu the direction which they know is not 'for the best interests of the trade, and which aro arousing feelings of strong resentment. An increasing desire to see tho end of tho present hostilities is presenting itself. This would bo welcomed even from a purely trade standpoint. The idea, has been expressed that the sooner the need for State interference ceases, the less probability there will be of all trade* secrets being given away entirely. This 3a one of tho most tantalising aud distasteful experiences which is having to te . faced. Private firms realiee that all their independence is being taken from them. ( 'and the sooner tho whole thing is ended the letter it will be for themselves. A continuance of.the. present state of affairs is • . looked upon as only, a jseans for increasing and intensifying complications.- On the other hand, State control appears ali .ready to have gone far enough to rcake it an exceedingly painful process to get ftack again to normal conditions. Karvy' .therefore look forward to the future* with c.nything but feelings of satisfaction. They realise that whatever happens, the trade . las before it an exceedingly difficult time. Working Hours In Mills. It has already been reported what has i Actually been done in this direction, and it wiil be useless going over the same ,• ground again. -Ail the same, the .v-riter itas often felt that further information "was needed to confirm the frequently-re-peated statements to the effect that there f -was some probability of still fewer •hayiug tO-.be worked in the mi-Is. -'n the jirsi place, the necessity for keeping maeh- » s ciiicry going from the employees', standpoint is a 1 "great one, and the position as j n- whole cannot bo improved by decreasing I -wases,.'and. at the same time reducing ; hours. Of course the 'alter r;ay ; hare excessive, in the past, but there ' is a limit to everything, and as soon as : output, begins to be reduced employers J • cannot look with,-any favour upon an in--1 .crease or even a maintenance of the wage - standard. The present indications axe W that instead of the wOrJring week being shortened, a returu will be made to noT" iiial conditions. In various sections of the | trade there_ is a very real necessity to maintain output. There is machinery even in the West Riding which, though using a i certain percentage of wool, works un other commodities in a muclj_ larger quantity. : .is a hcccssary constituent of the ■ fl.rtic|cs turned out, and the. products thera- . fclvos play' an important part in the ex- ' "port trade. To keep this machinery riinj nine on short honrs would be against the . national interests, and even in * '•ii.«hraents where wool is very largely . lised, it would tell very much to the dip- j ■ advantage of the country, and of ucol | fonsumptiou, if roducod working liours were to remain in force for any considerable length of time. Wool Substitutes Again. This subject, is not likely to be allowed ; 1o die out altogether. As itatcd in the ; previous paragraph, them are mills in tho I locality where considerable quantities of