BRITISH INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 292, 10 September 1928, Page 11

BRITISH INDUSTRY

POLICY OF RATIONALISATION A STRIKING ADDRESS MAN-POWER PROBLEMS MUST BE FACED (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph —Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) London, September 7. The new industrial revolution, to become known as “rationalisation,” strangely 'enough is attracting the attention of widely dissimilar bodies, the British Association and the Trade Union Congress. Mr. It. J. McKay, of the Bradford Dyers’ Association, enthralled scientists at Glasgow, when speaking on the human aspects of “rationalisation.” He insisted that it was essential to any durable constructive success that manpower problems should be frankly faced. The recruitment of personnel in industry and commerce was still on the whole primitive, chaotic, and discreditable. Given right leadership much progress might be made under “rationalisation.” Britain had been suffering from a surfeit of so-called “captains of industry,” many of whom in an army might be risky selections as corporals. Many were old men, not affected by the war, except in regard to tlie surprising ease with which they had made profits. Collaboration Between University and Industry. With the removal of the hard-dying social stigma attached to being in trade, together with its present-day rewards, the nation could expect tlie absorption of youths, who normally would enter the fighting and civil and other skilled professions, continued Mr. McKay. The relations between industrial concerns and the universities would change from ill-disguised mutual contempt to serious whole-hearted collaboration. Industry in tlie future would tend more and more to assume the nature of a well-run public service. Security of Employment. By “rationalisation” interlocking had minimised its risks. Labour, from directors to operatives, could therefore claim a corresponding security of employment. Mr. Mac Kay concluded by strongly urging that there should be less secrecy within business concerns, which would draw increasing benefits from pooling and a.comparison of information on all matters of mutual interest. Under these developments the old shame-faced plea. “Business is business,” would be gradually relegated to the limbo of less glorious days, and, whether cricket would become more and more business or not, business itself would be conducted more and more in accordance with the spirit of cricket. Another Word For Reason. Commenting on the Trades Union Congress resolution, the “Daily Telegraph” says: “Rationalisation, as Mr. Clynes, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Bevin invited the Congress to remember, will and must, advance, if British industry is to hold its place in the world. After all, the rationalisation which the revolutionaries hate and fear so much is only another word for reason, and the congress has shown reason and sound judgment in adopting the report of the General Council. The “Daily Herald” says: “Behind the decision lies the recognition that capitalist society is once again in the process of rapid change. Competition, which was tlie slogan of the nineteenth century, is being destroyed by capitalism in the interests of capitalism. Tlie process is inevitable. Rationalisation is here, and therefore it is the duty of the General Council to see that the worker is safeguarded under it.” TRADES UNION CONGRESS AN UPROARIOUS DEBATE London, September 7. Mr. J. H. Thomas’s bitter attack on the policy of grovelling to Russia, and sneers from a miners’ delegate at Mr. Thomas’s frock coat and top hat at Ascot were the features of an uproarious T.U.C. debate at Swansea. ' Tlie Engineering Union moved that tlie T.U.C. call a world conference to include unions affiliated to the Red International and re-establish the An-glo-Russian Joint Advisory Council. Mr. Thomas said: “We disrupted with Russia in 1927 because they misrepresented and lied about us. The same tactics are iu evidence to-day. We are not going grovelling to them while they ruin their own country or try to ruin it.” The conference shouted down Mr. Williams, a Forest of Dean miner, when he said there was small difference between Tomsky and Thomas. It did not matter whether a proletarian wore a shirt or silk hat, but it was essential that the workers of the world unite. The motion was defeated liy 2.877.000 to 437.000 votes. Mr. Will Thorne said that the Communists were trying to work their way into every trade union branch, just as Lenin wormed his way into the Russian movement in 1917. Personally he would like to have seen Comrade Stalin present, because he would have found the Soviet not getting value for their money here. Mr. Herbert Smith, miners’ president. said that Mr. Williams was not speaking for tlie miners. Tlie congress was unanimously agreed that there slffiuld be effective public control and co-ordination of all transport with compulsory regulation and insurance. A Transport Unions’ representative said that they were asking for a restriction of the insane road competition. He urged the restriction of driving licenses. Some car hands were erinnles. Mr. A. J. Cook has been ordered a complete rest.