SIR ROBERT HADFIELD AND LABOUR'S DEMANDS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 205, 24 May 1919, Page 3

SIR ROBERT HADFIELD AND LABOUR'S DEMANDS

Sir' Robert iladfield, chairman of-the great Sheffield linn of steel makers, which employs 15,000 men, says, in the "Week'iy Dispatch," of "Labour's Demands":— "My own opinion is that there is nothing very extreme in the demands of Labour, as some employers seem to think. Nationalisation of all vital industries is, of course, a vast proposition, aud I cannot agree about this, nor do I Hunk Labour asks for it. Nationalisation of railways seems to be a commoneense way of settling some of the difficult ties. Ido not want to quote or represent my "own works as a paragon for othu> to copy. But facts speak for themselves. Twenty-three years ago wo introduced in Sheffield a 48-hours week, and I tried to persuade other employers t.i do the same. Very few would listen to such a scheme. We have made other concessions. Tin result of our policy has been harmony and pleasant rehtions all the time between employer and employee. The employer must take risks - and niaka experiments that are likelv to conduce to beneficial results all round. lam no prophet, but I believe that before tho end of this year we shall see our way through this great crisis in human affairs."